Bid to import 'misdeclared' sweaters foiled

Customs authorities at Islamabad Dry Port have foiled an attempt to evade Rs10m in customs duties through misdeclaration while importing sweaters.

Officials seized a container filled with thousands of sweaters and registered a case against the clearing agents including the importer. The case was registered at the I&P Customs Police Station, Islamabad Collectorate on the complaint of Customs Dry Port Appraising Officer Nauman Ali.

According to the complainant, Assistant Collector Aqsam Ali Khalid received information about a possible attempt to deprive the national kitty through misdeclaration in a shipment.

A team was formed which, upon examination of the shipment, found as many as 36,732 foreign sweaters while the GD record indicated only 11,250 sweaters.

Importer Junaid Siddiqui in an alleged connivance with the customs clearing agents conspired with ill intent to misdeclare the quantity, attempting to defraud the govt of over Rs9.9m.

Consequently, the entire shipment and container were seized, and a case was registered under the Customs Act.