FIA claims busting gang selling non-customs paid vehicles online

Excise and Taxation official rejects claim

LAHORE: Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has unearthed a gang involved in selling of non-customs paid vehicles of all types online at cheaper rates, official sources told The News here Saturday.

The FIA officials, seeking anonymity, said they unearthed a mega scam involving some influential people running illegalbusiness of non-customs paid vehicles through online and causing a huge loss to the national exchequer.

The scam came to light during a case investigation in which a Qatari businessman was deprived of millions of Qatari Riyals allegedly by some Pakistanis.

The FIA inquiry team recovered three vehicles including a Rubicon Wrangler Jeep from the house of the main accused, Kashif Javed. During investigation, the officials said, it was found out that the jeep was a non-customs paid vehicle and the accused had bought it online, from a website being run from Quetta.

The FIA officials said that the mobile number given on the website are operational and fake customs clearance documents are prepared with the alleged connivance of the Excise Department in the federal capital.

After preparation of fake documents, such vehicles are transported to other parts of the country including Punjab for further sale at cheaper rates. “We have identified people involved in this crime and they would be arrested soon,” the officials added.

It is also learnt that the FIA would also write to other provinces to seek details about such crimes and the actions taken against the accused. “We would also write to Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to block all such illegal websites in the country to put an end to this illegal business,” the FIA officials added.

When contacted on Saturday, Excise and Taxation Director Islamabad Mariam Mumtaz rejected the claims of the FIA, saying her department had stopped registration and auction of Custom’s vehicles due to complaints.

She said the Excise Department stopped auctioning the vehicles after it started receiving complaints of bogus papers/documents. To a question, the Excise Director said her department always sought verification letters from all departments concerned.

She said her department had always cooperated with the investigating agencies including the FIA in the past and would continue doing so whenever they needed their help in tracing out the actual culprits involved in selling of non-customs paid vehicles.