Islamabad by SPECIAL COORESPONDENT
In a significant enforcement operation, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has unearthed a major fraud at Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport involving the illegal removal of high-value electronic goods without customs declaration or payment of duties and taxes.
According to a statement issued by FBR on Friday, the scam was discovered through credible intelligence, which led to heightened surveillance at the airport. A foreign ground-handling company, responsible for overseeing cargo movement, was found to be complicit, with several of its employees involved in collusion with dishonest importers.
The scheme involved the issuance of fake documents to smuggle out consignments of expensive electronics including laptops, iPads, iPhones, MacBooks, PlayStations, and memory cards. One consignment, worth Rs 103 million, was intercepted before it could be removed from the airport premises.
Investigations revealed that at least five consignments had already been illegally cleared using forged gate passes without submitting Goods Declarations (GDs) in the WeBOC system. These shipments, sent from M/s Peer Jelani General Trading LLC, Dubai, were concealed within two pallets and deliberately bypassed customs protocols. The estimated total revenue loss from duties and taxes evaded on these five consignments is approximately Rs 384 million.
Customs investigators confirmed that the employees of the ground-handling company manipulated the computerized iCargo system to hide airway bills and issue fraudulent gate passes, enabling the illicit clearance of goods.
Further suspicion was raised when the foreign company repeatedly refused to provide CCTV footage and crucial records, despite multiple requests—indicating possible involvement of its senior management in the scam.
The Collectorate of Customs at Karachi Airport has filed two FIRs and arrested several employees of the implicated company. Efforts are underway to recover the evaded revenue, and more arrests and FIRs are expected as the investigation progresses.
FBR Chairman and Member Customs emphasized that supervisory staff and customs officials who failed in their duties will not be spared. They stressed that this operation reflects FBR’s firm commitment to protecting national revenue and restoring public trust in customs enforcement.
