KARACHI: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has exposed a large-scale customs fraud at Jinnah International Airport, where electronic consignments worth hundreds of millions of rupees were allegedly removed without the filing of Goods Declarations (GDs) or payment of duties.
According to an official statement, the scheme was orchestrated by employees of a foreign-based ground-handling company in collusion with certain importers.
The company, which also served as custodian of goods at the airport, is accused of issuing fake documents that facilitated the illegal removal of high-value consignments.
The fraud was uncovered after intelligence-based checks were tightened at the airport. During the operation, Customs intercepted a consignment worth Rs103 million containing iPads, iPhones, MacBooks, PlayStations, and memory cards. Officials said the shipment was about to be moved out without duties or taxes when it was seized.
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Investigators also confirmed that at least two consignments had already been fraudulently cleared using fake gate passes. In total, five shipments originating from the UAE — each packed in one-tonne pallets — are believed to have been smuggled out through the scheme.
Authorities estimate revenue losses from the fraud at around Rs384 million. The consignments were deliberately excluded from the Customs WeBOC system to avoid declarations, while forged gate passes enabled their release.
The Collectorate of Customs Airport Karachi has registered two FIRs and arrested several employees of the ground-handling firm. Officials further alleged that company staff tampered with their iCargo system to conceal airway bills and generate fake passes.
Investigators also voiced concerns over the firm’s refusal to provide CCTV footage and other key records despite repeated requests, heightening suspicions of involvement by senior management.
