Directorate of Intelligence and Investigation (DI&I)-Customs, Karachi has confiscated over 2000 bottles of liquor imported under diplomatic cargo. According to details, the Directorate on the basis of credible information that revealed the modus operandi of smuggling liquor under diplomatic cargo blocked number of consignments imported by the Indonesia, Syria, Algeria and Lebanon embassies in March, 2019 after getting cleared from relevant Model Customs Collectors. Then, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was requested for nominating its representative for conducting joint examinations of the diplomatic consignments.

However, the ministry had only nominated its representative for joint examination of the consignment imported by Indonesian embassy and the department after joint examination recovered 480 bottles whisky 'Black Label' against the declaration of food stuff.

Similarly, the department had made several requests to the ministry for nomination of its officials for joint examination of rest of the other diplomatic consignments but no official was nominated despite the lapse of considerable time.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2019