The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has taken significant action by dismissing three Customs inspectors in Islamabad for their involvement in a major clearance scam that caused revenue losses amounting to nearly Rs. 7 billion. These inspectors, namely Aziz-Ur Rehman, Usman Ali, and Sehrish Nazir, were found to have deliberately cleared high-value imported items, including smartphones, wristwatches, cosmetics, and more, using a deceptive strategy.
The scam involved importing valuable goods under the cover of helicopter parts for a charitable foundation. The culprits, in connivance with customs clearing agents, managed to evade duties and taxes on these imported items, causing substantial financial damage to the national exchequer.
During the investigation, it was found that the accused inspectors failed to properly examine the goods and bypassed mandatory procedures, allowing the imported goods to be cleared without verifying necessary documents.
Furthermore, despite the availability of the automated WEBOC system for Customs clearance, these inspectors chose to use the outdated/manual One-Customs Clearance system.
In essence, the dismissal of these inspectors reflects the FBR commitment to upholding transparency, accountability, and revenue integrity within the customs department, and serves as a strong deterrent against fraudulent activities in the future