KARACHI: Collectorate of Customs Port Mohammad bin Qasim (PMBQ) thwarted a bid to smuggle foreign liquor into the country under the garb of diplomatic consignments.
Sources told that Collector Port Qasim Ashad Jawwad received credible information regarding import of huge quantity of liquor under the garb of diplomatic consignments.
It is necessary to mention here that embassies and diplomatic missions are accorded a quota by the Ministry of foreign Affairs for the import of liquor.
One such consignment was lying at Port Qasim for the last three months, and the Collector had information that liquor way in excess of the quota and other banned items were in the said consignment.
The Collectorate was in contact with Ministry of Affairs for examination with the Embassy representatives, as the Goods Declaration (GD) had been filed by M/s World Ocean Center on behalf of Embassy of UAE.
After several reminders and lapse of three months, Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed that Embassy of UAE had disowned the consignment.
Therefore, customs team led by Additional Collector Ali Zaman Gardezi examined the container, which led to recovery of 6,000 bottles of whiskey of European origin.
Sources told that the Collectorate impounded entire consignments of whisky and placed it in warehouse and started investigations.