Customs registers case against theft of confiscated goods

PCA has registered a case against a private company for allegedly stealing confiscated imported goods

KARACHI:

Customs Post Clearance Audit (PCA) has registered a case against a private company and its clearing agent for allegedly stealing confiscated imported goods worth Rs23 million from Karachi Airport's Service Terminal.

According to Customs Director for PCA South, Shiraz Ahmed, the importer, Quality Flavors Private Limited, and its clearing company, Danish Enterprises, were involved in illegally releasing a confiscated consignment through connivance of a customs officer posted at the airport.

A team led by PCA Director General Chaudhry Zulfiqar Ali, and Director Shiraz Ahmed, identified the organised fraud during the post-clearance audit.

Intelligence-based information indicated that the importer stole confiscated goods from Karachi Airport using illegal means.

The customs department had earlier sent the consignment to the adjudication collectorate, which imposed a fine of Rs8.1 million on the importer. However, the importer, in connivance with the airport customs officer, stole the goods without paying the fine.