Karachi: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has said that customs seized laptops, iPads, iPhones, MacBooks, PlayStations and memory cards worth Rs 103 million at Karachi Airport without paying duty and arrested the employees of the company involved in the act.

According to the FBR statement, the Collectorate of Customs Airport Karachi has immediately registered two FIRs and arrested the employees of the company involved in this crime.

The statement said that these electronic goods were being taken out illegally without submitting the goods declaration and without paying customs duty and taxes. Employees of a foreign ground handling company and corrupt importers were found involved in this fraud.

Regarding the operation, it was said that a total of 5 consignments were illegally exported through fraudulent methods, these consignments were hidden from the customs V-Bock system and clearance was made possible through fake gate passes by not filing GD.

The FBR said that the total estimated value of customs duty and tax evasion on the illegal clearance of the five consignments is Rs 384 million, the company employees used their computerized iCargo system to illegally export valuable electronic goods.

Officials said that 258 iPhone 16, 101 laptops, 246 tablets, 102 iPads, 46 PlayStations and 20,000 memory cards were recovered from just one consignment.

According to customs officials, the woman who issued the gate pass is in custody. According to the woman, she was receiving instructions from above, while the private cargo terminal is reluctant to provide more than a month’s worth of CCTV footage.

Officials said that more FIRs and arrests are expected.

FBR Chairman Rashid Langrial has said that customs officials who fail to fulfill their responsibilities will not be eligible for any concessions.