ISLAMABAD: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has drafted rules to empower customs officials to trace and freeze assets acquire by any person through proceeds of smuggling.
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Pakistan Customs makes seizures of Rs10.36bn in 2 ½ months
KARACHI: Pakistan Customs has accelerated operation against smuggling and non-duty paid items and made seizure of goods and vehicles valuing Rs10.36 billion during two and a half months of the current fiscal year.
The seizure during the current period of the current fiscal year is 91.4 percent higher than the seizure of Rs5.41 billion made in the corresponding period of the last fiscal year.
This was disclosed by chief collector of customs enforcement-south at a press conference here on Friday.
The chief collector south said that the customs seized goods worth Rs36.57 billion in fiscal year 2019/2020 as against the seizure of Rs25.39 billion in the preceding fiscal year, showing an increase of 44 percent.
He said that the collectorate south contributed the anti-smuggling and action against non-duty paid items to the tune of Rs1.18 billion during the period of July 01 to September 15, 2020 as compared with Rs958 million in the same period of the last fiscal year, showing an increase of 23 percent.
Whereas, the value of seizures of South in fiscal year 2019/2020 was amounted to Rs12.25 billion as against seizures of Rs2.74 billion in the preceding fiscal year, registering an increase of 347 percent.
Smuggled vehicles involving value of Rs539 million were seized in the fiscal year 2019/2020 as against Rs358 million in the preceding fiscal year.
The major seized items including vehicles, electronics, cigarettes, cloth, diesel, mobile phones, currency, betel nuts, gutka etc.
The collector said that Pakistan Customs collected customs duty to the tune of Rs624.65 billion in 2019/2020, which was 99 percent of the assigned target by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) for the fiscal year.
Furthermore, the collection of customs duty was at Rs92 billion during July – August 2020 as against the assigned target of Rs87 billion.
The collection of all taxes at import stage was amounted at Rs1,710 billion in fiscal year 2019/2020 which was 0.3 percent less than the preceding fiscal year.
Total tax collection of all taxes during July 01 to September 15, 2020 was at Rs347 billion, which is 1.39 percent more than the tax collected in the corresponding period of the last fiscal year.
During July – August 2020, the customs formation south collected customs duty amounting Rs76.38 billion against the target of Rs74 billion and against collection of Rs83.69 billion in 2019, the collector added.
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Pakistan Customs makes seizure of smuggled goods worth Rs3.8 billion in July
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Customs has achieved a significant milestone by seizing smuggled goods worth Rs3.8 billion in July 2020, marking a 143 percent increase compared to the same month last year, according to a statement released on Thursday.
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Security forces to provide monthly details of confiscated smuggled goods to FBR
ISLAMABAD: Security forces engaged in anti-smuggling activities to submit monthly seizure report to Federal Board of Revenue (FBR).
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Illegal trading of currency, gold to be liable for imprisonment up to 14 years
KARACHI: Passengers or crew members found involved in illegal trading of currency, gold or precious stones to be convicted with up to 14 years imprisonment along with huge amount of fine and penalty.
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Convicted persons to display names at business places
KARACHI: A person, who is convicted in an office of smuggling, is required to display notice of conviction for a period of three months.
If the person fails to do so the he commits further offence.
Under the updated Customs Act, 1969, the section 189 of the Act granted made it compulsory for a person who is convicted for the offence of smuggling to display the notice of conviction.
Section 189: Notice of conviction to be displayed
Sub-Section (1) Upon the conviction of any person for the offence of smuggling, the Federal Government may require him to exhibit in or outside, or both in and outside his place of business, if any, notices, of such number, size and lettering, and placed in such positions and containing such particulars relating to conviction as it may determine, and to keep them so exhibited continuously for a period not less than three months from the date of conviction; and, if he fails to comply fully with the requirement, he shall be deemed to have committed a further offence under this Act of the nature of the original offence for which he was convicted.
Sub-Section (2): If any person so convicted refuses or fails to comply fully with any such requirement, any officer authorized in that behalf by an order of the Federal Government in writing may, without prejudice to any proceedings which may be brought in respect of any such refusal or failure, affix the notices in or outside, or both in and outside, the place of business of such person in accordance with the requirement of the Federal Government in pursuance of sub-section (1).
Sub-Section (3): If, in any case, the Federal Government is satisfied that the exhibition of notices in accordance with the requirements of the provisions of sub-section (1) or sub-section (2) will not effectively bring the conviction to the notice of persons dealing with the convicted person, the Federal Government may, in lieu of, or in addition to any such requirement, require the convicted person to exhibit for such period, not being a period less than three months, on such stationery used in his business as may be specified in the requirement, a notice placed in such position and printed in type of such size and form and containing such particulars relating to the conviction as may be specified in the requirement; and, if he fails to comply fully with the requirement, he shall be deemed to have committed a further offence under this Act of the nature of the original offence for which he was convicted.
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Border markets, warehouses to be established to contain smuggling: Member Customs
KARACHI: Pakistan Customs to set up border markets and border warehouses all border crossing of the country to contain smuggling, a top official of Pakistan Customs said.
A statement released by Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) on Monday quoted Jawwad Agha, Member Customs (Operations) as saying that on the instructions of the Prime Minister Imran Khan is being prepared under which border markets and border warehouse would be established at all border crossing of the country to contain the smuggling.
Jawwad Agha in response to the FPCCI president suggestion regarding restoration of 20 days period for clearance of imported or exported goods from 15 days said that the period was reduced to 15 days due to avoid port terminal congestion.
However, in case of default particularly for the LCL he agreed to consider downward revision of heavy penalty which at present Rs. 5000/- per day. Regarding reduction in utilization period from 24 monthsof input acquired for manufacture and export of output goods under DTRE, he informed that the time was reduced to boost the manufacturing and exports of goods and advised the importers to complete the cycle of manufacturing of goods within the stipulated time.
In response to a suggestion for data exchange between Pakistani and Chinese customs agencies to curb under-invoicing, the Member Customs (Operations), FBR informed that during the Prime Minister’s visit to China the agreement has been signed and would be initiated soon.
Engr. Daroo Khan Achakzai, FPCCI President in his recommendations said that in order to facilitate the exports, the government should introduce a new scheme for imports-cum-exports of packing material whereby a notified percentage of inputs may be allowed to be imported at zero rate duties against FOB value of exports of Previous year with flexibility to import any product among the notified list in any quantity within the overall entitlement of the exporter.
Similarly Garment and Home Textile industry be facilitated by allowing duty free import of Accessories up to 10 percent of last year export performance, which should be added automatically in WeBOC of Manufacturer Cum Exporter ID after closing of 30th June every year on the basis of record available in WeBoc.
Exporter should be allowed to use it in exports without the condition of mentioning these goods in Export goods declaration.
However, if an Exporter is required to imports accessories/packing material in excess of 10% then he may use (SRO-492), (SRO 327-Export oriented unit) and (SRO 450-Manufacturing Bond). New Exporter may also use SRO 492(I)/2009 dated June 13, 2009 in first year to make their performance.
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FBR to issue procedure to document non-duty paid fast moving consumer goods
ISLAMABAD: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) will issue procedure for documenting smuggled and non-duty paid fast moving consumer goods (FMCG).
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Customs foils bid to smuggle explosive material in garb of toys consignment
KARACHI: Customs authorities have foiled a bid to smuggle explosive material into Pakistan in the garb of toy consignments, a statement said on Saturday.
According to details Model Customs Collectorate (MCC) Port Muhammad Bin Qasim foiled the bid to smuggle into Pakistan a consignment of explosive filled fireworks/firecrackers in the garb of toys and fun fair items.
M/s. Abrar Traders, Lahore, through his clearing agent A R Logistics has filed the goods declaration for clearance of imported assorted toys and fun fair items.
However, upon detail examination scrutiny by the collectorate staff, fireworks and fireworks crackers guns were found willfully concealed within the cartons of assorted toys.
The explosive/firecrackers are restricted items as per Import Policy Order and prone to smuggling under Section 2(s) of the Customs Act, 1969.
Accordingly, the collectorate seized the consignment and lodged an FIR. Further investigations are underway.
Mumtaz Ali Khoso, the collector of customs, appreciated the examination staff for detecting the case and reiterated the resolve not to allow any illegal activity at Port Qasim by unscrupulous elements.
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Customs seizes huge quantity smuggled diesel oil in deep sea operation
KARACHI: Customs authorities have foiled an attempt to smuggle large quantity of Iranian diesel oil into Pakistan, officials said on Thursday.
The officials said that Pakistan Customs Preventive Marine Section had conducted an operation against smugglers near Gwadar.
The customs authorities intercepted two boats in deep waters for search, which resulted in discovery of 22,000 liters of Iranian diesel oil, which was meant to smuggle into Pakistan.
The total value of diesel oil has been estimated at Rs2.1 million.
The customs authorities seized the diesel oil as well as both the boats. The value of seized boats has been estimated at Rs30 million.
The preventive officials said around 32.1 million worth diesel oil and boats were seized in the operation.