The Air Freight Unit (AFU) of Pakistan Customs has foiled a bid to smuggle antiques in the garb of gift bound for Germany at export cargo complex, Quaid-i-Azam International Airport. The Collectorate of Customs (Exports) on Thursday said that the customs officials at AFU had received a tip-off about smuggle of antiques through courier to Germany.
The Customs officials at AFU beefed up vigilance on all courier shipments bound for various international destinations. The Customs officials found one consignment booked for Germany was detained for examination and after detail checking it was found that the cargo had antiques containing copper pot, metal bowl, metal motor, stone luster bowel, stone dish, brass bowel, bronze pot and similar kind of other items.
The consignment was booked on May 18, 2007 by M/s ACI Express Pakistan Courier Services filed through clearing agent M/s N. J. International for the export of gift and samples to different international destinations including Germany.
The courier company carried out mis-declaration as defined under Section 32 (1) of Customs Act, 1969. Secondly, export of the antique objects is clear cut violation of Export Policy & Procedure order 2006-07 and section 26 of the Antiques Act, 1975. Therefore, the goods were seized on June 23 and a FIR was lodged on June 28, 2007, accordingly and investigation was in progress.