Entrance under cover of 'Azadi March': Customs incapable to check non-duty paid vehicles

Customs authorities expressed their inability to check non-duty paid smuggled vehicles entering the federal capital from Balochistan under the cover of 'Azadi March', sources revealed to Business Recorder.

On October 21, FBR issued a statement that certain unscrupulous elements may attempt to avail the opportunity of transporting vehicles under garb of crowds, groups and Dharna processions moving across country; adding the Customs field formations had been alerted to jointly apprehend such smuggled vehicles.

Field formations could not intercept vehicles moving in convoys to verify the authenticity of the engine/chassis number(s) and import documents, sources added.

"We are neither equipped to stop vehicles coming for the Dharna nor how to avoid confrontation with the participants of Dharana," sources added.

"A smuggled vehicle cannot be legalized or registered with the excise department. It has to be surrendered to the customs department and later auctioned to the general public with applicable duties, taxes and redemption fines levied," sources said.

When asked about the fate of seized non-duty paid smuggled cars, sources said that non duty-paid vehicles were seized regularly by customs and some of those vehicles had tampered/punched chassis numbers and cannot be auctioned in a normal manner. However, if engine and chassis number of the smuggled cars are not tampered with, the vehicles are auctioned under a laid down procedure.