Tax evasion: FBR seizes consignments of smuggled cigarettes

One of the consignments, including 300 cartons of cigarettes, was caught at Hyderabad’s Toll Plaza on Super Highway


Naveed Miraj October 22, 2015
PHOTO: REUTERS

ISLAMABAD:


As part of ongoing efforts to curb tax evasion on tobacco products, the Federal Board of Revenue’s (FBR) Directorate of Intelligence and Investigation Inland Revenue recently seized two consignments of non-duty paid locally manufactured cigarettes


One of the consignments, including 300 cartons of cigarettes, was caught at Hyderabad’s Toll Plaza on Super Highway. Transportation documents revealed that the goods were being from Bahawalpur to Karachi, but the route mentioned on the invoice was Swabi to Bahawalpur. Scrutiny of the documents also revealed discrepancies like overwriting on the tax invoice. Moreover, the cartons containing ‘President’ brand of cigarettes also did not bear serial numbers as mentioned in the accompanying tax invoice.

Directorate of Intelligence & Investigation-Inland Revenue, Peshawar also confirmed to Hyderabad directorate after verification that the goods seized at Hyderabad were not those that were sold and delivered through the invoice produced by the driver of the truck.

The investigators claim that federal excise duty to the tune of Rs3,924,375 and sales tax of Rs1,026,375 were evaded on the cigarettes.


Published in The Express Tribune, October 22nd, 2015.

COMMENTS

Replying to X

Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.

For more information, please see our Comments FAQ