Customs Foil Indian Machinery Smuggling, Seize Goods

KARACHI: The Collectorate of Customs Appraisement (West) and Collectorate of Customs Enforcement Karachi thwarted an attempt to clear banned Indian-origin textile machinery at the Karachi International Container Terminal.

A container, declared as containing a Chinese-origin textile twisting machine imported from Jebel Ali, Dubai, was intercepted under Goods Declaration (GD) No. KAPW-HC-62256 dated October 7, 2025. The interception was triggered by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR)’s Risk Management System (RMS 2.0), currently under test deployment at Karachi Port.

A physical examination revealed the machinery to be of Indian origin, contradicting the declared Chinese source. The consignment comprised a textile twisting machine with 576 spindles, imported in semi-knocked-down condition, with manufacturer plates and markings intentionally removed to obscure its true origin.

Customs authorities have lodged a misdeclaration case and initiated legal proceedings. The assessed value of the seized goods is $85,107. Officials emphasized that the detection underscores the efficacy of the upgraded RMS in identifying prohibited imports routed through transhipment ports.

In a separate operation, Customs Enforcement Karachi, in collaboration with Sindh Rangers, conducted a raid at Jodia Bazar, seizing a significant haul of smuggled goods. The confiscated items included 2,320 packets of foreign cigarettes, 9,620 kilograms of betel nuts, 140 packets of niswar, and 3,485 kilograms of cutch blocks.

The seized goods have been taken into custody for legal action. Authorities stated that these operations reflect the FBR’s ongoing commitment to combating smuggling and safeguarding Pakistan’s national economy.