173 containers scam: scope of inquiry to trace importers extended

[LRE]

173 containers scam: scope of inquiry to trace importers extended
SOHAIL SARFRAZ
ISLAMABAD (September 15 2008): As all Karachi-based importers involved in massive mis-declaration of 173 containers are untraceable, the Directorate General of Intelligence and Investigation has approached the High Commissions of China, UAE and Singapore for verification of documents pertaining to 173 containers cleared in Pakistan without payment of duties and taxes.

An official of DG intelligence told Business Recorder on Sunday that the agency has extended the scope of investigation to trace importers, who were involved in clearance of 173 containers. A team of the agency is expected to visit China, UAE and Singapore to verify the documents with the help of data available with the customs authorities of the exporting countries.

The agency has also contacted Directorate General of Customs Valuation, Karachi, to verify data of the missing containers to ascertain the actual loss caused to the national exchequer.

The DG intelligence has made some new developments in the missing container mega scam. The agency has found that the terminal operators and staff of preventive collectorates, Karachi, are involved in the mega tax scam. Sources said that the agency is making efforts to locate the vehicles used for transportation of 173 containers on which no duties and taxes were paid. However, all importers have escaped after clearance of containers to unknown destinations.

The department has also issued notices to shipping companies/agents concerned under section 26 of the Customs Act, 1969, to identify the persons to whom delivery orders were issued along with the copies of documents presented in this regard to the Shipping Lines. Besides, criminal proceedings have been initiated against the importers and clearing agents concerned involved in the scam.

Under section 26, customs officials are empowered to collect information regarding importation, exportation, purchase, sale, transport, storage or handling of any goods to determine legality or illegality of the importation or exportation of such goods. Details revealed that the regional office of DG Intelligence, Karachi, unearthed a mega scam of 173 containers cleared on fake goods declarations (GDS) from QICT (Port Qasim) during the period from October, 2006 to June, 2007, without any customs examination and payment of leviable duty/taxes.

The investigation conducted so far, has revealed that 173 FCL containers of imported dutiable goods were initially manifested in Pakistan Customs Computerised System (Paccs) either for transshipment to upcountry dry ports at Lahore, Peshawar and Faisalabad or clearance for home consumption at Karachi.

As per procedure the Terminal Operator was required to clear/deliver the goods according to online instructions from Paccs for transshipment or otherwise through processing of online Goods Declaration for home consumption.

However, the terminal operator unauthorizedly delivered/issued gate passes, ignoring online instructions and in absence of online GDs on the pretext that certain manual GDs allegedly completed through "One Customs" system was presented to them. During investigation, the terminal operators disclosed that they had verbal instructions from Paccs authorities to ignore electronic messages of Paccs and issue gate passes for delivery in case manual GD was presented for clearance of PaCCS containerized cargo.

The scrutiny of relevant information procured from Pral has revealed that out of 173 containers "B" message (Release for Bonded Carrier) against 52 containers from Paccs was given online to the Terminal Operator. However, the data of transshipment provided by Paccs to Pral in respect of 52 containers did not reflect the name of bonded carriers meaning thereby that containers were not actually transshipped.

Sources said that neither transshipment requirements were completed nor any online Goods Declaration had been filed for clearance of any of the said 173 containers in Paccs. Investigation conducted further revealed that under reference containers passed out of the exit gate of QICT unchecked by the Customs Preventive staff posted there. Apparently, Preventive staff failed to perform their duties properly and efficiently. While with connivance of the gate staff is being investigated their negligence cannot be overruled.

Investigations have further revealed that though the items declared in the manifest and documents procured, showed electronic goods, general goods, DVDs and CDs plastic cases and TV bodies etc, yet exact details/description contained in these containers could not be ascertained so far, due to the reason that all the GDs are bearing fake and forged signatures and stamps of the customs officers of "One Customs" posted at Port Qasim Collectorate and the National Bank. Nevertheless, the Terminal operator being the custodian of goods at the port is legally bound to make goods the revenue loss incurred by the state exchequer on account of this fraudulent clearance.

The main accused, mastermind of the scam, Muhammad Naeem Qureshi s/o Muhammad Rustam Qureshi has been arrested. Besides the main accused, clearing agent namely Jamal Durrani of the N.J. International involved in fraudulent clearance of 65 containers has also been arrested. On pointation of accused Naeem Qureshi, another accused namely Razik Din Jokhio who was working at QICT exit gate as a privately hired "Lapoo" of the preventive staff posted there was also arrested by this Directorate General.

The agency is also making serious efforts to locate and arrest the importers on their declared addresses. However, during physical verification by the investigating teams, these addresses were found either fake or non existent. Resultantly, none of the importers could be traced out/arrested so far. The agency has also initiated criminal proceedings against the concerned importers and clearing agents involved in the scam. The details of under reference containers along with copies of relevant import invoices and B/Ls have been forwarded to the concerned Pakistan embassies/high commissions of exporting countries ie China, UAE and Singapore for verification and to procure relevant Customs documents filed at the port of shipment of these consignments.

Besides, the Directorate General of Customs Valuation, Karachi, has also been requested to verify and provide relevant export details, including actual description, quantity, value of goods and foreign exchange payment, etc pertaining to the said containers, through the online access available with the Directorate General Customs Valuation. In addition to these, to determine the actual description, quantity, value of goods and mode of payment of these containers, the officials of the DG intelligence would visit China and Dubai for requisite verifications, the DG intelligence added.

The report of the DG intelligence has confirmed that the goods declaration (GD) was manually filed through the "One Customs" system. The manual GDs, as filed in this case, cannot be processed through the Paccs. The staff of the Preventive Collectorate and terminal operators seemed to be failed to discharge their duties during clearance of goods.

Under "One Customs", message has to be delivered on the gate for clearance of containers. In the manual system of "One Customs", paper DG was filed against which gate passes were issued for clearance of containers for transshipment purposes. In case of Paccs there is no gate passes involved during the clearance system. Instructions were issued electronically for clearance from port after payment of duties and taxes. Secondly, transshipment clearance has never been done through Paccs, but only "One customs" clearance system is being sued for this purpose.

Under "One Customs", terminal operators have to issue the gate passes for clearance of goods. There was also requirement that Pral computerised terminal at the gate has to generate an intimation of payment of duties and taxes for clearance of goods from the gate. It was the responsibility of collectorate staff to see the computer verification for clearance. Without clearance intimation, staff at the gate could not allow the containers to be cleared from the port. In this instant case, the gate pass were issued without getting clearance of payment of duties and taxes under the manual system and fake manual GDs were filed for clearance of goods.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2008