Karachi customs seize Liquor worth over Rs80m

Karachi: A customs spokesperson for Pakistan claimed on Sunday that customs officers had prevented an effort to smuggle imported alcohol worth more than Rs80 million from Port Qasim into Karachi by passing it off as diplomatic cargo.  

The spokesperson stated that the container's products declaration indicated it was transporting diplomatic supplies for an embassy; however, the customs inspectors detained the suspicious container.

They subsequently sent a letter to the relevant embassy asking for confirmation of the container and its contents, but the embassy claimed to be unaware of the imported goods.

According to sources, upon checking, it was revealed that instead of domestic goods, the container was carrying foreign liquor worth approximately Rs85 million.

A representative for customs stated that while an investigation and efforts are being made to apprehend further members of the smuggling gang, officials have already lodged a case and detained one suspect.

The arrested suspect has been presented in court and remanded for six days, the spokesperson said.

This is not the first case of alcohol smuggling in the port city involving diplomatic cargo. Earlier this year, the Directorate of Intelligence and Investigation (I&I), Customs, Karachi, seized 12,780 bottles of liquor and beer cans (10,548 bottles and 2,160 cans) worth Rs252 million imported in the garb of diplomatic cargo.

The documents revealed that Absolut Vodka’s 1,080 bottles, Scotch whisky’s 3,000 bottles, blended Clan MCG's 1,080 bottles, Grants Blended Scotch whisky’s 828 bottles, Chivas Regal’s 888, Sparkling Wine’s 120 bottles etc. were seized by the customs.

According to the documents, the directorate received a specific piece of information that an attempt would be made to smuggle liquor in the garb of diplomatic cargo ostensibly imported in the name of the Embassy of the State of Palestine.