ISLAMABAD, Sept 11: The Customs Intelligence has seized a container carrying electronic goods worth Rs20 million which fraudsters had got cleared by the Pakistan Automated Customs Computerised System (PaCCS) Karachi using documents relating to the embassy of an African country to evade duty and taxes, it is learnt.

At the Karachi port, the cargo in the 40-foot container was declared as the foodstuff destined for the embassy. However, the container actually carried electronic appliances and other essential goods which were unloaded at a godown in Korangi, Karachi, instead of being sent to the embassy in Islamabad.

A well-informed source in the Customs Department said that intelligence officials received information about the container after it was cleared by the customs staff.

They traced it to the godown from where the imported goods were to be sent to the domestic market.

The godown was raided and three people were arrested, the source said, adding the suspects were being investigated to know whether other containers had also been got cleared by them.

Fraudsters in recent years have been found using the documents of Afghan Transit Trade to clear the containers meant for Nato forces in Afghanistan to evade duty and taxes.

But the cargo in those containers eventually found its way to the domestic market.

The containers meant for Afghan cargo and Nato forces are exempt from duty and taxes at Pakistani ports.

When contacted, Customs Intelligence director general Riaz Khan confirmed to Dawn that the PaCCS Karachi had cleared the container without receiving duty and taxes.

“We are investigation the arrested people to establish whether it was just an isolated case or part of some racket,” Mr Khan said.

He refused to identify the embassy whose papers had been used by the suspects.

The documents will be verified from the relevant embassy to know whether those documents were forged or real ones, he said.

Mr Khan said that the suspects must have submitted an exemption certificate at the port for getting the container cleared. “This will become clear in a few days,” he added.

The import of several items for embassies, especially food, is largely exempt from duties and taxes but the facility is often misused by fraudsters.