Gang making bogus import, export documents busted by FIA

Five held by agency

LAHORE: Two teams of FIA’s Corporate Crime Circle (CCC), Lahore on Thursday unearthed a mega scam of allegedly preparing, managing and using bogus import and export documents of Pakistani and Indian authorities, with the alleged connivance of Pakistan Customs, after conducting two raids and arresting five accused persons.

According to FIA sources, the two teams were constituted by Jamil Ahmad Khan Mayo, Deputy Director FIA CCC. The first team raided Australia building and arrested three accused persons, including Talat Mehmood Butt, Muhammad Murtaza, Import Manager and Muhammad Akbar, Manager Pak-Afghan Clearing agent.

Blank Indian invoices importers exporters Amritsar, Shivaji Ditta and J.Keshore, three Indian customs stamps, stamp of Export Promotion Bureau, the government of Pakistan, different stamps of Indian miscellaneous exporters, blank stamp papers having denomination of Rs20 each, chequebooks of different Pakistani banks, stamps of Railway Cargo, department of plant protection quarantine storage of Indian government, Export Inspection Council, Rail Cargo, Land Customs station Amritsar, etc were recovered  from Pak-Afghan customs clearing agent, Australia building, Lahore.

FIA sources told that initial interrogation revealed that the edible items groundnut kernel and cumin seeds etc were imported from India on the basis of fake invoices, SAFTA form and goods declaration with the connivance of Customs authorities and Quarantine plant protection department, the government of Pakistan and caused a huge loss to the national exchequer by the way of under invoicing availing illegally custom exemption of bogus documents i.e bogus invoice and SAFTA form.

Accused Akbar allegedly used to manage fake test laboratory report with the connivance of officer of the plant Quarantine department, Lahore. A case has been registered against them.

Similarly, sources added, the second raid was conducted at Imran Yousuf and Co. importer exporter and customs clearing agent office at Al-Sharif Market, Bohar Wala Chowk, Railway Station, Lahore, and recovered stamps of Indian Customs Department, different stamps of Pakistani importers and exporters, banks receipts, receipts related to Hundi/Hawala, bogus invoices and SAFTA, etc were recovered from the spot.

Accused Imran Yousaf, owner and M. Siddique, Manager of M/s Imran Yousuf and Co. importer exporter and customs clearing agent, Lahore have been arrested from the spot and a case has also been registered against them.Director FIA Punjab Dr Usman Anwar has constituted a high-powered committee to probe this mega scam.