Customs seizes 155 tonnes of smuggled almonds

The Collectorate of Customs Enforcement, Karachi, has seized 155 tonnes of American almonds concealed as brown-eyed beans in a green channel shipment, according to Customs spokesman Syed Irfan Ali.

Ali said they had received information about the smuggling of American almonds disguised as an import shipment of brown-eyed beans, cleared through the green channel. Two import consignments were flagged as suspicious. These consignments declared as brown-eyed beans had been cleared through the green channel by AR Brothers and had arrived from Jebel Ali.

Acting on the intelligence, a raid was conducted at Rehman Godown, Falcon Logistic Complex, Hub River Road, Karachi. During the operation, a container and an accompanying vehicle (TKL-072) were intercepted.

A preliminary examination revealed that the first two to three layers of the container contained brown-eyed beans, but a deeper inspection uncovered a significant quantity of American almonds.

Further scrutiny of the godown led to the recovery of American almonds, assorted vegetable seeds and brown-eyed beans from different containers linked to the aforementioned goods declarations (GDs).

A similar raid was conducted at Haroonabad Godown, SITE Area, leading to the interception of two containers mounted on two vehicles (TKZ-090 and TAD-487). A preliminary examination revealed the same concealment method.

Further inspection of the godown resulted in the recovery of additional quantities of American almonds, American-brand Sling Film and brown-eyed beans, which had arrived via different containers under the aforementioned GDs.

A review of the WeBOC (Web-Based One Customs) system revealed that GD No. KAPW-HC-142259-28-02-2025 had been fully gate-out cleared, GD No. KAPW-HC-142275-28-02-2025 had two out of 11 containers still at the KICT Terminal, which had not been gate-out cleared.

These two containers were immediately put on hold. A formal request was made to the KICT manager for their handover. The containers were then secured by the Customs’ ASO staff and transported to a warehouse for detailed scrutiny. A thorough examination revealed the same smuggling pattern. Given the smuggling pattern found, these shipments are suspected to have contained similar misdeclarations.