KARACHI: Customs Collectorate (Adjudication-I) Collector Shahanshah Hasnain has issued three Order-in-Original (ONOs) – 506/2013-14, 507/2013-14 and 512/2013-14 against the seizure of smuggled/non-duty paid vehicle, contraband including cigarette, Indian gutka, BT/Hot filter Khaini and other items.
As per details, the ONOs have been issued against Mitsubishi Pajero Jeep bearing registration No. E-0092 (Jamshoro and Kotri) worth Rs2.1 million, non-duty paid goods like Indian gutka, BT/Hot filter Khaini (Niswar), foreign origin cigarettes, tyres, tubes, jogger shoes, long range phones, blankets, carpets, Lux beauty soap along with passenger bus bearing registration No. BSA-753 (Al-Waheed Coach) worth Rs9,655,985, cloth, LED TVs along with Toyota Corolla car bearing registration No ASP-908 and three Shahzore trucks bearing registration Nos KP-9306, KN-6768 and KN-2857 worth Rs8, 819,793 respectively.
As per reports, Customs Collector (Adjudication-I) Shahanshah Hasnain issued ONO 506/2013-14 against the respondent Mohammad Amin, son of Mohammad Yousif. The case was instituted by the Directorate of Customs Intelligence and Investigation on Feb 19 and the hearing was conducted on March 5, 2014 while the judgment was made on March 31, 2014.
According to the Directorate of Customs I&I, credible information was received that a smuggled/non-duty paid vehicle Mitsubishi Pajero Jeep, bearing Registration No.E-0092 had been registered with the Motor Registration Authority without the cover of legal import documents and that the vehicle was plying on city roads.
Acting on the tip-off, a team comprised of ASO officers intercepted the smuggled vehicle near Tariq Road. The officers sought legal documents of the vehicle from the man who introduced himself as Mohammad Amin.
He, however, produced registration book issued by the Excise & Taxation Officer, Jamshoro District Kotri, showing therein registration of Mitsubishi Jeep bearing Registration No E-0092, Chassis No LOU99-3015839, Engine No BM-7354, Model 1991, on 17-01-2007, in favour of Muhammad Sharif (CNIC # 41303-6433236-7) and later on transferred to Muhammad Amin (CNIC # 42101-4016898-5).
But he failed to produced any legal import documents at which the Pajero Jeep was impounded for verification of import and payment of duty and taxes leviable thereon against preparation of inventory and ‘mushirnama’ duly signed by the witnesses was served upon Mohammad Amin with the directions to produce relevant legal imports documents of the vehicle within 5 days. However; despite lapse of considerable time period, the man neither replied nor produced any relevant import documents.
In the light of aforesaid information, the Collector of Customs Adjudication-I pronounced a judgment, stating that neither the respondent nor anyone on his behalf had appeared so far and after examination of the case it had been confirmed that the impounded vehicle was smuggled and brought into country without duty and taxes in violation of Import Policy. Therefore, charges made in seizure report/show-cause notice stand established.
Similarly, the Customs Collector Adjudication-I issued an ONO No 507/2013-14 against the respondents Abdul Ghani, Haji Ibrahim, Jamil Ahmed, Haji Toor, Haji Sarmad, Shahnawaz Marri, Haji Rehmatullah and Haji Rajab in a case instituted by ASO-HQ, NMB Wharf, Karachi on December 3, 2013. The case was heard on Jan 13, Feb 24, March 10 and 17 and the judgment was declared on March 31, 2014.
According to details, it was reported by ASO, MCC-Preventive that a credible information was received that a passenger bus bearing registration number BSA-753 (Waheed Coach) en-routed Quetta to Turbat would bring smuggled/ non-duty paid goods like Indian gutka, foreign origin cigarettes etc.
Acting on the tip-off, a team under the supervision of ACP/HQ was constituted to foil the attempt. Accordingly, the said bus was intercepted near Zero-Point, RCD Highway, Balochistan.
During checking, the smuggled goods like Indian gutka, BT/Hot filter Khaini (Niswar), foreign origin cigarettes, tyres, tubes, jogger shoes, long range phones, blankets, carpets and Lux beauty soaps were recovered from the conceal compartments of the bus.
According to the DIT, no legal documents were produced neither by the occupant/driver/owner of the bus nor by anybody else to substantiate the lawful possession and importation of smuggled goods as mentioned in the seizure report.
Therefore, the Customs Collector Collectorate of Adjudication-I in his judgment stated that he had gone through the written and verbal submissions of the Advocate on behalf of the respondents and the Department representative.
Record of the case has also examined and charges made in seizure report/show cause notice stand established.
“All the goods mentioned in the seizure report/show cause notice are confiscated outrightly under the provision of the laws as mentioned in para-4”.
The judgment further stated that the impounded passenger Hino bus has already been released provisionally vide interim Order No ASO-142/2013/HQ under Section 157 of the Customs Act, 1969 against payment of 20per cent of the determined value of the vehicle in the form of Pay Order amounting Rs170,000.
Meanwhile, the Customs Collector Adjudication-I issued another ONO-512/2013-14 against the respondents including Waheedullah, Abdus Samad, Barat Khan and unknown driver/owner of Shahzore vehicle. The case was instituted by ASO-HQ, NMB Wharf, Karachi on Jan 10, 2014.The hearing of the case was conducted on Feb 17, March 5, and 18 while the judgment was declared March 31, 2014.
According to the details, the ASO, MCC-Preventive was tipped off that a group of notorious smugglers had loaded off smuggled foreign origin goods from passenger buses plying on Quetta-Hub route.
Subsequently, they were in the process of shifting the smuggled goods to different other vehicles for onward transportation to dumping haven situated at Yousuf Goth, Karachi.
Acting on the clue, a team of ASO was constituted to foil the attempt of the unscrupulous smugglers to transport the smuggled goods to Yousuf Goth. Incognito surveillance was mounted on roads tributaries/ mud roads of Lucky Chowrangi area.
In the morning of Jan 10, some vehicles were seen coming from Hub side intending to bypass RCD highway to get to Yousuf Goth. The Customs team signaled them to stop, but they accelerated and finally intercepted three Shahzore trucks bearing registration numbers: KP-9306, KN-6768 and KN-2857, loaded with smuggled goods.
According to ASO staff, two drivers namely Waheedullah and Abdus Samad were arrested while one of the drivers managed to escape. Subsequently, four others accomplices of the smugglers reached the scene in Toyota Corolla bearing registration number ASP-908 and tried to snatch the arms from Customs staff. One of the accomplices was identified as Barat Khan, who was carrying a gun in his hand. On the occasion, the ASO team was called for back-up support and arrival of manpower, the miscreants were managed to escape leaving behind their car.
In the judgment, the Collectorate of Customs Adjudication stated that he had heard both the sides and examined the record as well as written submission.
“The gravity of the offence is clearly reflected in the report/ status submitted by the prosecution. The offence is very serious and grim. The respondents completely failed to defend the charges made in the seizure report/ show cause notice stand established. The arguments presented by the respondents during the hearing carry no weight, so as all the goods mentioned in the seizure report and show cause notice are confiscated outrightly under the provision of laws as mentioned in para-3”, he added.