The Directorate General Intelligence and Investigation Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) on Tuesday stopped a Dubai-bound ship and seized 10 containers following information of huge misdeclaration and misuse of Duty and Tax Remission for Export (DTRE) scheme.
Sources told Business Recorder that the directorate has unearthed a unique kind of tax fraud where a ship was stopped from sailing on a confirmed report of massive evasion of duties and taxes. The ship was ready for departure, but it was intercepted by the officials of the DG Intelligence and Investigation FBR. It is very rare that the agency has sopped ships from departure, but the information about the tax fraud was authentic and examination of containers proved the veracity of information.
Details of the case said that the DG Intelligence & Investigation FBR foiled an attempt of a tax fraud through misdeclaration of weight in a consignment of export contained in 10 containers of 20" ft each. The containers were declared containing 239 tons of iron & steel pipes whereas actually the containers contained only 14.7 tons of iron & steel pipes.
According to details M/s Shadab Engineering Industries (Pvt) Ltd, Gujranwala imported 350 tons hot rolled and cold rolled coils/plates without payment of duty/taxes under DTRE, as the goods manufactured from the raw material were to be exported. On April 13, 2011 the above named firm filed a Goods Declaration with Customs authorities for export of a consignment of 239 tons of iron & steel pipes to UAE under DTRE. The goods were examined and the assessment was completed by the concerned Customs staff of Model Customs Collectorate of Export, Karachi, and cleared as per declarations given in the said GD.
Later, the consignment was held by Model Customs Collectorate of Exports, Karachi. The consignment was, however, again allowed for loading on ship after examination at around midnight. On April 15, 2011 at about 4pm, the Director General Intelligence & Investigation, FBR received information that an attempt had been made to commit a tax fraud through misdeclaration in weight of the above said consignment. The staff of the Customs Intelligence, Karachi instantly rushed to the port. It was found that the containers had already been loaded on the ship which was to be departed at 6pm. The terminal operator was directed to stop the ship from departure and offload the containers from the ship. After offloading, the containers were examined and it was observed that the total weight of the consignment in 10 containers was 14.785 tons only instead of declared 239 tons (224 tons less than the declared weight). The exporter attempted to evade taxes of Rs 8.5 million through misdeclaration and misusing DTRE in connivance with the clearing agent and Customs staff.
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