May 27, 2008	Tuesday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 21, 1429

LAHORE, May 26: The Lahore High Court has held that the Customs authorities and the Directorate of Intelligence (DoI) could conduct joint raids to check whether or not imported consignments needed seizure or confiscation.

Justice Khwaja Farooq Saeed of the LHC ruled this while dismissing several petitions against joint inspection and checking of imported goods by the officials of Customs Appraisement and Directorate of Investigation.

The DOI started checking the consignments on information that a Karachi based importer had been using the name and address of a Lahore-based importer and evaded duty and taxes massively.

The petitioner (importers) imported goods under different consignments and in various containers. Some of these consignments were inspected and released by the Customs authorities. On demand of the DoI, the same were rechecked and contravention reports were prepared for seizure of the same.

On the basis of the above experience and information already in the knowledge of the DoI, the consignments were jointly inspected and subsequently impounded for wrong declaration and under-valuation. Later show-cause notices were issued under section 171 of the Customs Act.

After hearing arguments, the judge said the law made it clear that the DoI could detain, seize and confiscate the goods imported or exported in case the importer signed a document knowingly that he was mis-stating.