The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has published a new protocol for storing and disposing of seized/confiscated cigarettes, cigarette paper, cigarette filters, and betel nuts.
On Thursday, the FBR issued customs general order (CGO) 6 of 2021.
The procedure provides for the supervision of the destruction of seized/confiscated cigarettes, cigarette paper, and cigarette filters by a committee comprised of the Incharge AC/DC and ADC of the Collectorate / Directorate; the Additional Director of Customs Intelligence & Investigation; an officer of the seizing agency equivalent to BS-19, if the seizing agency is not Customs; and a representative of the seizing agency.
Prior to destruction, the committee shall randomly inspect different brands to verify the products brought for destruction and, upon satisfaction, shall countersign the list indicating that seized/confiscated goods have been totally burned/destroyed, in the format, FBR added.
When cigarettes, cigarette paper, and cigarette filters are seized, the seizing officer shall prepare a brand-specific recovery memo in addition to the other required papers. The Superintendent in Charge shall additionally countersign the brand-specific recovery memo. The recovery memo must also include photographs of all the brands, which must be signed by both the seizing officer and the Superintendent in charge. At the time of handing over seized goods, i.e. seized/confiscated cigarettes, cigarette paper, and cigarette filters, the Inspector incharge warehouse shall countersign both the brand-specific recovery memo and accompanying photographs as a token of receipt goods, with a copy retained by the seizing officer in the format specified in Annex-B.
Inspector Incharge will sign the brand-specific destruction list, as well as any annexes. The Superintendent Incharge, who signed the seizure memo previously, shall counter-check and sign the brand-by-brand destruction list, certifying that these are the identical products as those included in the recovery memo.
The concerned Assistant Collector/Deputy Collector shall also conduct a cross-check of the two lists prior to destruction to ensure that the commodities are same, the FBR noted.
