Bid to fraudulently clear goods foiled

Air Freight Unit (AFU), Immediate Clearance Group (ICG) of Pakistan Customs Saturday claimed to have foiled an attempt to clear goods worth Rs 3.39 million through misdeclaration.
Speaking at a press conference, Sanaullah Abro, addition collector said that credible information was received that M/s Paradise E-Commerce Solutions, Karachi was engaged in fraudulent clearance of high dutiable goods in the garb of magazines/printed matter at AFU, ICG, Jinnah International Airport. Karachi. Reacting to it, a team was constituted to verify the veracity or the aforesaid information.
Resultantly, a consignment said to be declared as Magazines/Printed Material consisting of 51 packages weighted 690 kilograms imported by the said E-Commerce company from M/s. Darlington Postal Company, USA was intercepted. The importer got delivery order by the ground handling agent M/s. Gerry's Dnata for clearance.
However, the documents of the shipment were found strong evidence of misdeclaration that led stopping the consignment from delivery at ICG gate, immediately, he said. Later, it was revealed after physical examination of the goods that the shipment did not contain any magazine/printed material instead contained dutiable goods such as cosmetics, food supplements/vitamins, ladies purses various other house hold and electronic goods.
One Heavy Duty 3D printer (which is importable on submission of NOC from Ministry of Interior) was also found in the said shipment. The value of the seized goods is estimated to Rs 3.391 million involving Rs 2.85 million duty/taxes.
Consequently upon the recovery, an FIR was lodged against two persons namely M. Najib Markatiya owner of M/s. Paradise Ecommerce Solutions, Karachi and Rafique Ahmed Siddiqui clearing In-charge of the said firm, who were arrested immediately by Customs staff.
During the course of investigation, it came to know that company was involved in massive fraud by clearing the high value dutiable goods in the garb of newspaper and magazines. Another person Waseem Ahmad, Operation Manager of company has also been arrested. The record of other 25 shipments has also been retrieved involving an amount of duty and taxes so far estimated is more than Rs 50 million. However, the final amount will be determined on lie case, Abro said and added the important record was also recovered from the possession of the accused persons and further investigation is in progress.