KARACHI: The Customs Court issued non bail-able warrants against suspects namely Muhammad Fafeem, Muhammad Umair and Muhammad Kamran, who were booked in a case of attempting to smuggle non duty paid 54,180 kilogram betel nuts.
On November 01, investigation officer informed the court that above mentioned accused are still absconding and prosecution is trying its best for their arrest and they will be produced before the court when arrested.
Investigation officer also submitted interim challan and informed the court that on a actionable information that two containers arrived from Jabel Ali UAE in the name of importer/ consignee M/s Sun Gravure are lying at Karachi International Container Terminal (KICT) stuffed with betel nuts instead of plastic film rolls declared in the respective import documents.
He submitted that during the raid of the same place, a team of Customs Preventive recovered 54,180 kilogram betel nuts and during the investigation, it was established that accused Muhammad Shafique Ahmed Qureshi, owner of Sun Gravure, Khalid Ahmed, co-owner of M/s Sun Gravure, Abdul Moin Majeed Bawany, Muhammad Abbas Hashmi, Muhammad Kamran, Muhammad Faheem, Umair and others have thus committed an offence under violation of Section 2 (s) 16, 32 156 (2) and 178 of Customs Act, 1969 punishable under Clause (8) (9) (14) and 89 of Section 156 (i) ibid read with Section 3(1) of Imports & Export Control Act, 1950 and Import Policy Order 2016.
He said that since the investigation of the case is continuing and effort are under way to trace out and arrest the absconding accused persons involved in the scam, therefore, it is requested that further time may kindly be granted in terms of section 344 Cr.pc.
He further informed the court that Muhammad Shafique Ahmed Qurashi, Khalid Ahmed, Abdul Moin Majeed Bawany, Muhammad Abbas Hashmi are on bail.