Clearing misdeclared consignments: FBR DGI&I initiates inquiry against seven customs officials

Directorate General Intelligence and Investigation (DGI&I)-FBR Islamabad has finally initiated formal inquiry against seven customs officials for their alleged involvement in the clearance of misdeclared remeltable iron consignment.
Sources told Business Recorder on Thursday that out of total seven customs officials, three officers are from Model Collectorate of Customs (MCC), Appraisement and remaining four officers, who are presently off duty, belong to Karachi DGI&I. They said the Karachi DGI&I in this regard has sent a detailed report to headquarter and recommended suspension of the said staff on account of their misconduct.
According to the said report, a copy of which is available with Business Recorder, revealed that the Karachi DGI&I intercepted and detained a consignment containing remeltable iron, after having been cleared and out of charge from MCC, Appraisement, Karachi on August 27, 2010, at MTO Yard, West Wharf Karachi. The said consignment, weighing 145 MT had been imported as mix metal & remeltable scrap from UAE by M/s. Ahsan Enterprises, Karachi.
It further said the detained consignment was examined on September 4, 2010 by the staff of Appraisement-I branch of regional office in the presence of the representative of the importer/clearing agents and the witnesses. As per their findings, the said staff mainly reported misdeclaration of GP sheet (35 MT) involving evasion of duty/taxes amounting to Rs 0.883 million. The consignment was accordingly seized under the relevant provisions of the Customs Act, 1960.
Moreover, the report said the importer had voluntarily tendered pay orders of the reported evaded amount of duty/taxes. Meanwhile, a complaint, made by the Steel Market Association of Pakistan alleging incorrect examination of the consignment by Directorate's staff, was received on September 27, 2010. Reacting on the said complaint, the staff of technical branch of Karachi DGI&I was deputed to re-examine the said consignment under the supervision of assistant director, Appraisement.
After the re-examination of the said consignment, the staff of technical branch of Karachi DGI&I, had found that the importer with the connivance of customs staff had evaded Rs 2.84 million duty/taxes and had deposited only Rs 0.32 million as against the total leviable duty/taxes of Rs 3.16 million. Keeping the said facts in view, the Karachi DGI&I had immediately placed its said staff off duty and had recommended headquarter to suspend all of them on account of their misconduct.