The NAB (F) has filed Rs 59.290 million corruption references against Clearing Agents, Custom and Railways officials for the alleged involvement in illegal removal of imported goods without payment of duties and taxes.
A spokesman of NAB (F) said here that upon completion of the investigation, a reference was filed against two clearing agents, five Custom officials and two Railways officials for causing loss of Rs 59.290 million to the national kitty by illegal removal of imported good without payment of duties and taxes.
He said that investigation into illegal removal of imported goods trans-shipped from Karachi Customs destined for Dry Port Peshawar conducted at NAB (F) revealed that a gang of clearing agents in connivance with Railways and Customs officials was operating at Peshawar in the recent past. During investigation it was established that computerised Pakistan Revenue Automation Ltd (Pral) system was also involved, as details of trans-shipped goods were kept secret, thereby causing huge loss in the head of revenue collection.
Investigation further revealed that 46 containers valuing Rs 136.867 million were removed by the Customs clearing agents in connivance with Customs and Railways officials during the period of 2004-5 and caused loss of Rs 559.290 million in the form of taxes and duties. Fake and bogus documents were prepared for removal of the goods and it was sold in the open market. The goods were imported in the names of fake importers so as to enable the actual importers escape any legal action, he concluded.