KARACHI: The Customs Intelli­gence and Investi­gation has seized 17 containers of Isaf (International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan) loaded with goods other than what had been declared in export documents.

These containers had been lying at the port for about four months. After failing to get a satisfactory reply from bonded carrier and clearing agent for the delay in shipment, the Customs authorities examined the containers.

The Director Customs Intelligence, Karachi, Mohammad Asif Marghoob Siddiqui, said in a statement that the physical examination of eight containers revealed that there were wooden pellets and bricks in them whereas in the export documents it had been declared that these contained batteries and tube-lights.

Take a look: No physical examination of containers

He said this proved the intelligence provided by the FBR that actual goods had been pilfered, was authentic.

“The eight containers have been seized after fulfilling legal formalities under the Customs Act, 1969,” Mr Siddiqui said. The director intelligence further said that goods belonging to Isaf forces had been sent from Torkham customs station in Peshawar and were being re-exported to Germany through the Port Qasim (Exports) Collectorate, by a bonded carrier. The representative of the carrier, he said, had been arrested and more arrests were likely.

He said that nine containers loaded with drums having hazardous material had also been seized and would be examined with the help of the department concerned.

Published in Dawn, April 5th, 2015

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