Customs intelligence recovers huge quantity of liquor from diplomatic consignments

Customs intelligence recovers huge quantity of liquor from diplomatic consignments

KARACHI: Directorate of Customs Intelligence and Investigation, Karachi has recovered huge quantity of liquor from consignments brought in Pakistan under the garb of diplomatic goods.

In an official note, the customs intelligence on Thursday said that it had recovered 480 bottles of foreign whisky from consignment declared to contain food stuff imported by Embassy of Lebanon, Islamabad.

It said that pursuant to credible information regarding smuggling of liquor in the garb of diplomatic goods, the directorate blocked a number of consignments in March 2019 imported by the Embassy of Indonesia, Syria, Algeria and Lebanon after clearance from the relevant Model Customs Collectorate.

The directorate’s headquarters has been requested to approach the ministry of affairs for nominating its representative for conducting joint examination.

The ministry through a letter dated May 22, 2019 only nominated its representative for joint examination of Indonesian Embassy consignment imported on March 16, 2019.

It resulted in recovery of 480 whisky ‘Black Label’ which did not contain any food stuff at all.

The headquarter was once again requested on October 10, 2019 to approach the ministry of foreign affairs to sent representatives of respective embassies during the examination on October 22, 2019 as considerable time has lapsed and the matter cannot be left pending indefinitely.

The consignment imported by Embassy of Lebanon, Islamabad dated March 16, 2019 was blocked by the Directorate on Information of comprising contraband goods.

The consignment was said to contain food stuff. However, examination conducted on October 22, 2019 at BOML Terminal, West Wharf, Karachi resulted in recovery of 480 bottles of blended Scotch Whisky (Johny Walker Black Label) in one wooden box valuing Rs4.32 million.

It did not contain any food stuff at all. Accordingly, the consignment being liable to confiscation has been seized and further proceedings under way.