Theft of 94,000 kgs of betel nuts: FBR suspends two customs intelligence officers

The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has suspended two customs intelligence officers involved in stealing 94,000 kilograms of betel nuts from State Warehouse (SWH) at SITE and ordered a formal inquiry against them. Talking to Business Recorder, Irfan Javed Director, Directorate Intelligence and Investigation (DI&I), Customs, Karachi confirmed that a formal inquiry had been initiated after the suspension of its two officers.
He said that the involvement of six intelligence officers was identified in this case and the Directorate had sent letter to the head quarter, proposing the suspension of rest of the four officials as well.
It is worth mentioning that the probe has been commenced on the findings of audit committee that confirmed the replacement of 94,000 kilograms of betel nuts with 5650 kilograms of date seeds, wooden off cut & soup nuts during the period June 2018 to January 2019.
The accused Mehmood Akbar was involved in the illegal removal of 94000 kilograms of betel nuts from the warehouse and accused Pervaiz Zardari allegedly replaced 180 bags of seized betel nuts weighted 5,650 kilograms with 180 bags of date seeds, wooden off cuts, etc.
Meanwhile, sources said that both accused persons were finally suspended after the complaint lodged by Directorate staff on PM Pakistan Citizens Portal and added that they were low rank officials and were not able to commit such heinous crime without being patronized by one of the additional collectors and a principal appraiser.
The complaint alleged the top official in DI&I, Customs, Karachi for giving undue favor to the said additional collector and principal appraiser and excluded their names from formal inquiry that raised serious questions on his integrity in this case.