ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has uncovered the use of illegally smuggled iPhone 14 Pro Max devices by customs officials, instead of destroying them in accordance with the rules.

According to the documents available with Dawn, PTA in response to the letter sent to the authority in connection with the inquiry against the Islamabad International Airport (IIA) Collectorate disclosed that the expensive cell phones seized from passengers which were required to be destroyed were operational.

Sources privy to the matter said that the decision to destroy the cell phones was taken by relevant authorities with a committee comprising senior officials of FBR formed to oversee the process. The items that could not be auctioned are supposed to be destroyed under the supervision of the committee.

The Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO) has also taken notice of this matter and sought action against officials responsible for the ‘theft’. FTO also sought explanation from the IIA Collector.

According to the documents, the issue of the theft of 42 iPhones was raised in a complaint. The FTO ordered the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to “conduct proper probe into allegation that impugned mobile phones are active (not destroyed) and take appropriate action against customs officials found responsible.”

During the probe, the PTA informed the Collectorate that “operational utilisation of 2 non-type approved and 20 other mobile phones with iCloud status reflected ON”.

“This leads to the inference that at least 22 iPhone 14 Pro Max out of a total 42 were actually not destroyed”, the inquiry report stated. The IIA Collectorate in order to cover up the theft shifted the responsibility to another Collectorate, as per the report.

FTO in its order observed that the case was a “Defiance of Recommendations” as the inquiry officer failed to identify the persons responsible for the theft and subsequently sought explanation from the IIA Collector.

“Collector, Collectorate of Custom IIA Islamabad is given a last opportunity to comply with recommendations”, the order stated while instructing to take appropriate action against the members of staff found responsible.

Published in Dawn, August 1st, 2024