The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has imposed penalties amounting to Rs2.7 billion on M/s Gerry’s Dnata (Pvt) Ltd after adjudication proceedings found the company involved in the illegal clearance of high-value imported electronic goods through manipulation of customs procedures.
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According to details, the case was uncovered following a coordinated investigation by the Collectorate of Customs (Airports), Karachi. The inquiry revealed alleged misuse of the computerized clearance system, including concealment of airway bills, deletion of index numbers, and generation of fake gate passes, which allowed consignments to be removed without filing Goods Declarations (GDs) or payment of duties and taxes.
Authorities said the fraudulent activity enabled consignments to bypass the WeBOC customs system and remain untraceable within the clearance framework. The adjudicating authorities also ordered the recovery of Rs221 million in duties and taxes.
The investigation initially began when customs officials intercepted suspicious consignments at a cargo shed, which included high-value electronics such as laptops, iPhones, iPads, MacBooks, PlayStations, tablets, and memory cards allegedly being moved using forged documentation.
Subsequent inquiries reportedly revealed that several other consignments had already been cleared through similar methods. All shipments were said to originate from UAE-based suppliers.
Authorities have arrested eight individuals in connection with the case, including five employees of the company. During interrogation, confessional statements were recorded, with one female employee allegedly admitting to issuing fake gate passes on supervisory instructions. A cargo agent also reportedly revealed the existence of an organized network involved in manipulation of manifests and systematic pilferage of imported goods over several years.
