KARACHI: In a robust show of vigilance, Collectorate of Customs Appraisement (East) led by Collector Nadeem Memon foiled an attempt to smuggle Indian goods worth Rs11.03 million. Three other consignments declared to contain “used clothing” have been detained and examined by the Collectorate leading to detection of Rs 16.49 million tax evasion as the team during the examination found prayer mats, cosmetics, kitchen-ware and other high value goods instead of declared goods by the importers.
According to the details, a consignment of metallic yarn has been confirmed to be manufactured by M/s Sumilon Industries Surat, Gujrat, India. The fake and forged import documents submitted by the importer to the Customs authorities at Appraisement East, including the bill of lading and Certificate of Origin (purportedly issued at UAE) showed the origin as “China”, however, upon detailed scrutiny of the documents, Customs staff suspected that the goods may be of Indian origin imported via Jebel Ali port in order to hoodwink the authorities and get clearance of Indian goods otherwise not importable.
This was confirmed upon examination of the goods wherein it was found that while the goods didn’t have any indication, prima facie, to reveal their true origin, the inside of the yarn bobbins had Sumilon, Surat printed/stamped on them thus rendering the goods worth Rs11.03 million and subject to duty and taxes to the tune of Rs5.143 million, not importable in terms of the import policy order in vogue.
Further inspection of the matter revealed that Sumilon Industries are Indian based manufacturers of metallic yarn producing export quality yarn for supply to multiple countries including Saudi Arabia and UAE.
Since the government has prohibited the import of goods of Indian origin or imported from India through the Statutory Regulatory Order- 927(I)/2019 dated 09.08.2019, amending the then existing Import Policy Order, 2016, thus putting goods of Indian origin or imported from India on the same footing as Israel, Customs authorities are on high alert in cross-checking the origin of goods that had previously been regularly imported from India.
Similarly, upon credible information received by the Collector, Appraisement East, 03 consignments of “used clothing” were examined and detailed scrutiny of the containers showed that the importers had attempted to get clearance of goods such as prayer mats, glass chatons, Cosmetics, Kitchen-ware and other high value items in the garb of “used clothing”. This gross mis-declaration by the importers, if gone undetected, would have deprived the national exchequer of legitimate amount of revenue to the tune of Rs. 16.49 million.
The Collectorate has tightened its grip against unscrupulous elements involved in smuggling and tax evasion misusing the Green Channel facility. Further investigations in the matter are underway.