Some four containers of different brands of cellphones worth over Rs 1 billion have been cleared under the guise of LED bulbs in connivance with PRAL officials; it is learnt. M/s Digicom Trading (Pvt) Ltd has imported four containers - TCKU9143410, CAIU8005886, KKFU7255573 and CBHU8458012 from Jebel Ali, UAE under BL SASLJEAKHI8082 at Karachi International Containers Terminal (KICT) on October 28, 2017.
The said trading company vide GD No KAPW-HC-73036 misdeclared the consignment as LED bulbs and got the same cleared in connivance with PRAL officials under Green Channel facility. Meanwhile, sources said that Model Customs Collectorate (MCC) Preventive had precise information about the said consignment but managed to confiscate only one container, ie, (KKFU7255573) of cellphones worth Rs Rs 284.47 million....reason best known to the department.
However, sources added that rest of the three containers carrying mobile phones worth over Rs 750 million were transported beyond the jurisdiction of MCC Preventive with ease. On the other hand, MCC Preventive after lapse of three days remained unable to arrest any of the nominated directors of M/s Digicom Trading (Pvt) Ltd, involved in the clearance of myriad quantity of, raising a big question of transparency in the working of department.
Moreover, sources said the said company, which was supposed to import cellphones of its own brand, was involved in bringing assorted brands of mobile phones under the very nose of the customs department and got the same cleared under Green Channel facility in connivance with unscrupulous officials of PRAL. When contacted, Collector Preventive Dr Iftikhar Ahmad dispelled the impression of any 'under-the-table' deal between the importer and ASO staff of MCC Preventive, which caused the delay in the arrests of the accused.
He said the department was informed that huge quantity of cellphones would be smuggled from the port area in the garb of import of LED bulbs from MCC Appraisement West, Karachi by the said trading company for onward transportation to Central Plaza, Saddar, Karachi.
Therefore, in pursuance of the said information, the department found one container (KKFU-72557-3) loaded on a trawler No. TLT-374 at the said place and after extracting further details from the system through container number, the department came to know that three more containers were released on the same date under the same GD, he said, adding that these three containers were still untraceable, despite conducting raids at different warehouses of the company.
The MCC Preventive at a press briefing Friday afternoon, which the sources claimed was aimed at pressurizing the importer for undue 'gains', apprised media to have confiscated one container carrying 27,200 Q Mobile sets, 35,790 assorted branded mobile phones and 531 assorted tablets worth Rs 284.47 million on November 1, 2017. The department during presser also confirmed that the importer misused the Green Channel facility under WeBOC system and got cleared the consignment of cellphones.
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