ISLAMABAD: Collectorate of Customs Adjudication Islamabad Collector Muhammad Ali Raza has ordered confiscation of 1,100 mobile phones and imposed a fine of Rs 500,000 on the unknown owner.
The collector issued Order-in-Original (ONO) No. 75 in this regard. The ONO stated that Customs Intelligence, Rawalpindi has seized a bag at the airport without tags of airlines which had been removed by unknown accused to conceal the ownership.
The intelligence team recovered 1,100 sets of cell phones of various brands including Samsung, LG, Nokia, Motorola and Sony without packing.
The ONO further added that the unknown person, whose identification is under investigation, had attempted to smuggle the cell phones which is an offence under Section 2(s) of the Customs Act 1969, therefore a criminal case was lodged against unknown accused.
The court added that despite granting three opportunities of hearing, no one appeared to claim ownership of the seized goods.
The court stated in ONO that from the forgoing facts it is clear that the seized goods are smuggled and non-duty paid which had been brought into the country in violation of provision of section 2(s) and 16 of the Customs Act 1969. Hence the same are liable to confiscated under Section 156(1) (8) (89) of the Customs Act 1969 read with Section 3 (3) of the import and Export (control) Act 1950.