KARACHI: Anti-smuggling authorities have arrested three men and are searching for a fugitive customs official accused of orchestrating a massive fraud involving the theft of high-value electronics from a government warehouse, officials said.
The Anti-Smuggling Organization (HQ) filed a First Information Report on Sept. 2, alleging that Customs officials used fake documents to remove a shipment of tablets, speakers and mobile accessories valued at more than 18.2 million rupees (about $65,000) from State Warehouse-I at the Custom House in Karachi.
According to the FIR, the scheme was masterminded by Muhammad Shahzad Aslam, a customs employee who was officiating as a clerk in the Auction Section. Aslam, who remains at large, is accused of exploiting his unrestricted access to auction files to disclose protected information and facilitate the illegal sale of Auction Lot No. ASO-101-2025.
Investigators said Aslam approached the buyer, Talha Hafeez, through a network of intermediaries, including fellow customs employee Muhammad Tehseen and a third man, Khan Muhammad.
The FIR alleges Aslam fabricated a story about an anonymous investor to convince Hafeez to agree to a “delivery-first, cash-later” arrangement, bypassing standard treasury payment channels. After securing a 3 million rupee pay order to make the transaction appear legitimate, Aslam allegedly removed the original auction file from the office to destroy the official record.
Aslam then forged a certificate under Rule 72 of the Customs Rules, a delivery order, a Computerized Payment Receipt and a Challan. According to the report, the forged documents falsely showed that the bid value of 15 million rupees and an income tax of 1.5 million rupees had been paid to the government.
Hafeez, assisted by an accomplice identified as Saif, used the forged documents to obtain a gate pass and collect the goods from the warehouse, the FIR states. Hafeez then allegedly paid 15 million rupees in cash to Tehseen, who passed the money to Aslam, ensuring no financial trail linked the principal accused to the buyer.
No part of the 15 million rupees reached the national exchequer, and the 1.5 million rupees in income tax was never paid, according to the report.
The stolen lot included 183 Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ tablets, 297 Lenovo tablets, multiple Marshall and JBL speakers, Apple chargers and AirPods, and other electronic accessories.
Customs Preventive Officer Imran Maqsood, the complainant in the case, said the fraud violates Sections 32A and 178 of the Customs Act, 1969, and is punishable under clauses of Section 156(1) of the same act.
Hafeez, Khan Muhammad and Tehseen were arrested and served with notices specifying the grounds of arrest. They appeared before a special judge for Customs, Taxation and Anti-Smuggling on Sept. 3, where the court granted a two-day physical remand to allow investigators to complete their inquiry.
Authorities said Aslam is absconding and efforts to arrest him are ongoing. The investigation is continuing, and officials said the role of Saif, who allegedly helped procure the gate pass, is still being determined.
