FIR Filed Against Companies Involved in Smuggling in Karachi
The Customs Enforcement in Karachi filed an FIR against several companies, including M/s Tanveer & Company (Pvt) Ltd, M/s RAH Shipping & Logistics SMC Pvt Ltd, and M/s Cargo Logistics International belonging to M/s Bilal Associates. This was achieved after Intelligence Bureau (IB) shared reliable information with top Customs officials such as Collector Moinuddin Wani, Additional Collector Basit Hussain, Deputy Collector Raza Naqvi, and Superintendent Habib Meo.
The IB had given the information regarding a truck, bearing the number JU-2401, which was allegedly smuggling container INKU-6417040. According to the reported information, the truck was carrying smuggled goods like illegal cigarettes and LCD monitors, destined for a dumping ground located near Bahria Transshipment Hub, at Hub River Road, Karachi. On receiving this news, the ASO deployed its team for surveillance of that locality.
At 11:10 PM of November 18, 2024, the ASO team intercepted the truck on Hub River Road. In the presence of witnesses, Niaz Hussain and Rana Azeem, the Preventive Officers, the truck driver was interrogated. He presented different documents before the officers, such as Form-A for Bonded Carrier, Form-A for the agent, Transport Note, Delivery Note, and Weighment Certificate. These documents stated that the cargo contained 66 bales of second-hand used clothes weighing 18,330 kilograms.
Since the information was credible, Customs officials decided to check the cargo. After breaking the seals on the container, the initial inspection revealed bales of used clothes. However, further investigation uncovered cartons with foreign cigarettes and LCD monitors inside. The import of these cigarettes is illegal, and the monitors were subject to duty, confirming the smuggling activity.
Then, he was given time to present appropriate legal documents, but no one appeared to take his goods, and no genuine paperwork was presented. On account of this, the truck with a container and the smuggled goods were shifted to State Warehouse Maripur for in-depth inspection and follow-up legal action. A formal report was prepared right there on site.
Increased smuggling activity through transit trade has decreased as stricter anti-smuggling efforts have been devised. Others, however, have resorted to inter-movement and transshipment cargo. According to a Customs official, the cargo thieves of NATO/ISAF cargo have even managed to seize control of terminal operators by holding shares and establishing off-dock terminals. This puts these cargo thieves in a position to replace cargo without going through Customs inspections.
Also, the Manifest Clearance Department had its deactivation; thus, these cargo movements are not checked. Consequently, consignments arriving by ship are left unchecked, and the Customs staff, comprising the Deputy Collector, are overwhelmed. The terminal operators manipulate the container by affixing seals without proper oversight from the Deputy Collector.
In fact, the Consular and Customs authorities continue to face the challenges of controlling smuggling and giving due enforcement of the law.
