ISLAMABAD — The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has unearthed a major customs fraud at Jinnah International Airport (JIAP), Karachi, where high-value electronic consignments were illegally removed without filing Goods Declarations (GDs) or paying customs duties and taxes.
According to an official statement released on Friday, the scam was orchestrated by employees of a foreign-based ground-handling company — the custodian of the goods — in collusion with corrupt importers. The perpetrators allegedly used fake and forged documents issued by company insiders to smuggle out electronic goods worth hundreds of millions of rupees.
The fraud was exposed following credible intelligence and swift action by customs authorities, leading to enhanced security controls at Karachi airport. During the operation, officials seized a consignment valued at Rs103 million, which included laptops, iPads, iPhones, MacBooks, PlayStations, and memory cards, before it could be removed illegally.
Further investigation revealed that two other consignments had already been cleared fraudulently using fake gate passes. The Collectorate of Customs Airport Karachi has since lodged two FIRs and arrested several company employees involved in the case.
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In total, five consignments — all shipped from the UAE by M/s Pir Jillani General Trading LLC, Dubai — were confirmed to have been illegally removed using this method. Each shipment, packed in two large pallets weighing around 900–1000 kg, was deliberately concealed from the Customs WeBOC system, allowing clearance without documentation. The total estimated duty and tax evasion amounts to Rs384 million.
Investigators found that company staff manipulated the computerized iCargo system to hide airway bills and issue fake gate passes, facilitating the illegal removal of the high-value electronics. The foreign-based company has refused to share CCTV footage and other key records despite repeated requests, raising suspicions of involvement at senior management levels.
The FBR confirmed that FIRs have been registered, suspects arrested, and efforts are ongoing to recover the evaded taxes. More arrests are expected as the investigation deepens.
The FBR Chairman and Member Customs have pledged that no leniency will be shown to any custodian or customs official found negligent, reaffirming the department’s commitment to ensuring transparency and accountability in customs operations.