Despite the recovery of military equipment from three retrograde containers dumped in a warehouse at Karachi, the Model Customs Collectorate (MCC), Preventive, is exhibiting reluctance to register a case of pilferage of Nato/Isaf consignments after the lapse of three days; it was learnt here on Thursday.
According to sources, the staff of Preventive Collectorate on a tip-off conducted a raid on two warehouses located at Bhains Colony and Mauripur area on December 15, 2015. They said that the staff had recovered 162 empty Nato/Isaf retrograde containers from a Mauripur warehouse while over 290 reverse containers have also been identified in the warehouse at Bhains Colony.
Replying to a question, sources said that all 162 containers recovered from Maripur were de-stuffed and filled with concrete blocks while three of total containers seized from Bhains Colony warehouse were said to have the accessories for military helicopters and others. The customs department has, however, neither denied nor accepted to have recovered said sensitive Nato/Isaf military equipment from three retrograde containers.
Moreover, sources said that both warehouses were owned by a company (BA), which was already nominated by Directorate of Trade Transit in a similar case eight months ago. Elaborating case's details, sources said that Directorate of Trade Transit had detected a case of pilferage of Nato/Isaf consignments in last May and lodged two FIRs against the said company but no further action had been witnessed that led to another similar incident.
Needless to mention, first such incident was reported on December 7, 2013 when Customs Preventive had found three retrograde containers - LMSU 1400780, USAU-2059417 and MBIU-8260838 - at the yard of authorised bonded carrier located at Port Qasim area. Two of three containers had been de-stuffed and were filled with sand bags while auto parts of Armoured Personnel Vehicle (APC), which were used by Nato/Isaf forces, were recovered from the third container.
Sources claimed that the owner of the said yard had used his influence and pressurized the then collector preventive by initiating FIA investigation against him that left the investigation of the case inconclusive. The sources are of the view that the MCC Preventive following the past experience has now appeared reticent to register a case of pilferage of Nato/Isaf consignments even after the lapse of over 72 hours just to avoid any untoward situation.
When contacted, customs officials, who did not want to be named, confirmed that MCC Preventive had so far not lodged an FIR in this case, saying that department had asked the Directorate of Transit Trade to ascertain the identification of these containers.
Moreover, they said that these containers had so far not been confirmed as retrograde cargos and the department had no clue that these containers were parked in the warehouse for stealing goods or had been waiting for next assignments. Therefore, a probe has been initiated to ascertain the facts and the case will be registered after confirmation of these containers as retrograde containers, they added.
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