KARACHI: The Customs have seized spare parts of aircraft and computer servers brought into the country without taxes or duties and issued notice to a private airline responsible for bringing the consignment from Dubai.

According to sources, the Customs seized the goods worth over $30,000 at Karachi airport on Jan 26. The consignment was brought from Dubai aboard a flight of the Shaheen Air International (SAI).

Had the consignment been imported in a proper manner, the importer would have paid about Rs1 million in taxes or duties.

A show-cause notice issued to the airline by Additional Collector of Customs Abdul Basit Chaudhry on March 25 says that spare parts of aircraft and other goods illegally brought in by the SAI flight NL-737 from Dubai were seized.

The letter says the seized goods include four parts of antenna, a starter control valve, a protector tank over pressure, 25 0 rings, a POD end, and a window heat computer. The consignment in nine packages also includes two IBM servers.

A car, probably used to take the consignment away from the airport, has also been seized.

The notice says the value of the goods has been assessed at $30,900 and the duties and taxes thus evaded to over Rs1m.

By carrying the goods, it says, the airline has violated provisions of the Customs Act 1969. The offence is punishable under provisions of the Imports and Exports (Control) Act 1950.

The letter asks the SAI management to explain why the goods should not be confiscated and penalty should not be imposed on the airline. The management has been asked to submit a reply in seven days.

If no reply is submitted during this period, it will be presumed that the airline does not want to contest the charges and the case will be decided on the basis of available record/evidence, says the notice.