The MCC (Model Customs Collectorate) Port Qasim has lodged an FIR against several persons for attempting to import and clear banned liquor in the garb of diplomatic consignment. The Customs authorities have launched a crackdown on misuse of diplomatic consignments.
A secret Information was passed through Collector Port Qasim Nasir Jameel to Additional Collector Aman ullah Soomro, regarding misdeclaration of description in a diplomatic consignment imported under the name of an Embassy located in Islamabad which was kept under observation declared to contain ‘household goods and personal effects’ from UAE as country of Origin against exemption certificate issued/uploaded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) Islamabad.
Deputy Collector Adarsh Jawahir formed a team comprising Principal Appraiser Imran Gul, Mohammad Bilal and Investigation officer Najeeb Abid, which observed certain discrepancies in the documents like difference in the copies of BLs (one uploaded by the Embassy and the other by MoFA) and overwriting on the exemption certificate led credence to the information received.
Further, name of the clearing agent mentioned in the exemption certificate is Viking Shipping Services whereas the subject GD has been filed by another clearing agent namely M/s. Shams Trading Co. Accordingly, the Collectorate wrote a letter to FBR to approach the Embassy through Ministry of foreign Affairs (MOFA) for deputation of a representative of the Embassy for joint inspection of the consignment. In response MOFA mentioned that the “embassy has no knowledge of or any relation whatsoever with the consignment currently detained in Karachi.
The Embassy also informed that the intended goods under exemption certificate were received on 27.06.2023. This fact has been confirmed by the undersigned as the goods under same exemption certificate were cleared from Collectorate of Appraisement SAPT.
In view of the aforesaid mentioned facts it is established beyond any iota of doubt that the accused tried to clear Liquor of assorted types which are Banned, through misdeclaration of description under the garb of import by privileged persons through submission of fake and forged documents.
The consignment” being liable to confiscation was seized. In view of above it is established beyond any shadow of doubt that Waseem Ahmed Abbasi S/o Rahim Ahmed Abbasi, Khalid Hafeez and others to be ascertained during the course of investigation Karachi and their associates and shipping line including freight forwarder have committed an offence of smuggling of specifically banned goods in the grab of exempted diplomatic cargo.
The FIR of the case is lodged accordingly to initiate prosecution / investigation under the Customs Act, 1969.
