Around 100 tons of betel nuts replaced with date seeds

Around 100 tons of betel nuts worth in millions have reportedly been replaced with date seeds at State warehouse SITE with the alleged involvement of the officials of Directorate General Intelligence & Investigation (DGI&I)-Customs, FBR, Karachi, it was learnt. According to sources, this transgression came on surface when in-charge warehouse Mehmood Akber, IO, Auction, who in his letter informed the authorities that one of the intelligence officers posted at ASO, DGI&I-Customs, FBR visited state warehouse, SITE at 0300hours on February 3, 2019 with myriad number of gunny bags and registered it as betel nuts case in the inventory.
Mehmood in his letter stated that he was informed by Sepoy Afaq Qureshi, performed duty in night-shift that the said intelligence officer of ASO, DGI&I-Customs, FBR, arrived at the place at night and left large number of gunny bags.
During inspection at next morning, it was revealed that these gunny bags filled with date seeds. Mehmood in his letter claimed that he made videos and captured pictures of the said goods in order to avoid any action against him and informed the authorities, accordingly.
In response, the DGI&I-Customs, FBR has ordered to constitute a committee to conduct physical snap audit of confiscated betel nuts lying in the state warehouse SITE area Karachi for the period June 2018 to January 2019 and directed the committee to furnish the report within seven days. However, DGI&I, Customs, FBR officials when contacted stated that the audit report has so far not been finalized.
On the other hand, sources said that the audit team in its provisional report confirmed the incident and held seven persons including three DGI&I officials, four private persons responsible for this illicit activity.
Sources further said that the audit team also included in-charge warehouse Mehmood Akber, IO, Auction, who reported the said transgression allegedly committed by DGI&I, Customs FBR, Karachi officials, in the case.
Replying to a question, sources said the provisional audit confirmed that around 100 tons of betel nuts worth in millions had been replaced with date seeds at State warehouse SITE with the alleged involvement of three DGI&I officials.
Sources claimed that Sindh police confiscated betel nuts from cutting unit of Sohail Memon and transferred its custody to DGI&I, Karachi and then these three accused DGI&I officials patronized the return of around 100 tons of betel nuts back to the unit.
Later, these accused intelligence officers of ASO DGI&I-Customs, FBR Karachi have placed date seeds at state warehouse SITE to maintain the quantity of stolen betel nuts, which were returned back against undue gains.