KARACHI, (APP – UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News – 4th Sep, 2026) The Collectorate of Customs Enforcement, Karachi has arrested one of its own staff members, along with the bidder and a facilitator, for orchestrating a fraud of Rs16.5 million in a Customs auction lot, committed in February 2026, through fake documents.
Credible intelligence was received on 28th August 2026 regarding the fraudulent removal of auctioned goods, in February 2026, from the Collectorate without payment of the bid amount into the Government treasury.
A Fact-Finding inquiry/preliminary investigation was ordered, which established that a bidder had removed goods of an auction lot valued at Rs15 million without payment of the bid amount and had also evaded the associated 10% income tax of Rs1.5 million, bringing the total default to Rs16.5 million.
The fraud was executed by preparing a complete set of fake documents including a fake PSID with no record in the WeBOC system, a fake Delivery Order, a fake NOC, and a fake CPR (Computerized Payment Receipt for income tax), all prepared by a clerk posted in the Collectorate’s Auction Branch.
On confirmation of the findings, an official of the Auction Branch found complicit was arrested, along with the bidder of the auction lot and a go-between/facilitator.
The clerk who prepared the fake documents, who had been off duty for a couple of months and is identified as the mastermind of the fraud, is presently absconding, and teams have been deployed to trace and apprehend him.
The three arrested persons, on interrogation, have confessed to their involvement and have named the absconding clerk as the mastermind who orchestrated the preparation of the fake documents. They were produced before the court on 3rd September 2026, which granted a two-day physical remand, and are presently under interrogation/remand of the I&P Branch of the Collectorate. Further investigation is under way to recover the defrauded amount and to determine whether any other Collectorate officials/staff or private persons were involved in the crime.
The Federal board of Revenue reiterates its zero-tolerance policy towards corruption and malpractice within its ranks, and reaffirms that strict action, including departmental and criminal proceedings, shall be taken against all persons found responsible, irrespective of rank or position.
