Karachi: Attempt to Smuggle Usable Batteries Under the Guise of Scrap Foiled
Karachi – Customs authorities have foiled an attempt to smuggle usable batteries under the guise of scrap batteries. The importer, Century Engineering, had successfully cleared eight containers of scrap batteries, but their attempt was thwarted after a tip-off from an intelligence agency.
According to sources, Century Engineering had imported eight containers of scrap batteries and obtained clearance for them. Upon receiving a confidential report from a sensitive agency, Collector Enforcement, Moenuddin Wani, instructed Deputy Collector Enforcement, Syed Muhammad Raza Naqvi, to form a special team to monitor the clearance process for scrap batteries at the Karachi International Container Terminal (KICT).
On November 24, Customs authorities intercepted the shipments of scrap batteries at the West Wharf ICI Bridge, where the accompanying clearing agent’s representative, Abdul Aziz, was asked to provide the relevant documentation. The documents showed three Goods Declarations indicating that the imported goods were declared as scrap batteries.
However, further inspection revealed that eight containers had been cleared through the Green Channel under the declaration of scrap batteries. One of these containers had already been moved to a warehouse located on Northern Bypass. Upon further investigation and laboratory testing, authorities confirmed that the eight containers contained 6,748 usable batteries, valued at Rs 134.9 million (13.49 crore rupees), rather than scrap.
The Customs authorities seized the eight containers, valued at Rs 4 million, and registered a case against the clearing agent and the importing company. The smuggled goods have been transferred to the ASO (Anti-Smuggling Organization) Customs warehouse for further action.
It is worth noting that under the import policy, the import of old and used batteries is banned in Pakistan. Despite this, the importer attempted to bypass the regulations by misdeclaring the usable batteries as scrap.
