Pakistan: Bentley worth over $189,000 stolen from London recovered in Karachi

A luxury Bentley Mulsanne stolen from London was recovered from Karachi during a raid on Saturday, local media reported.

The Collectorate of Customs Enforcement (CCE), Karachi, confirmed that the UK's intelligence agency tipped off Pakistani authorities that the stolen vehicle was found parked in a house in Karachi's Defence Housing Authority (DHA) area, The News International reported.

"A credible information was received from a national agency of a friendly country that a grey Bentley Mulsanne, V8 Automatic, VIN Number SCBBA63Y7FC001375, Engine Number CKB304693 was stolen from London and their intelligence agency indicated that the said vehicle is supposed to be parked at 15-B, South 10th Street, DHA, Karachi," Federal Board of Revenue's (FBR) Collectorate of Customs said in a statement.

The two accused were taken into custody.

"The arrested persons were identified as Jameel Shafi, son of Shafi Ahmed, a resident of 10th South Street, House No 15-B, Phase II Extension, and Naveed Bilwani, son of Rafique, a resident of House No. 159, Khayaban-e-Roomi, DHA," said an official.

"Another accused Navaid Yamin, a resident of KDA Officers Society, facilitator at Motor Registration Authority, Excise & Taxation Department, Karachi is missing while other financiers, abettors and associates to be ascertained during the investigation are yet to be arrested."

According to local media, the excise department was accused as a 'facilitator' in evading taxes amounting to over Rs300 million (over $1.3 million) as the provincial government registered the luxury vehicle without the foreign ministry's permission and a no-objection certificate from the customs.

The car's assessed value at the time of import was Rs41.43 million (over $189,000).

When the FBR officials raided the house, they found that the Bentley had a Pakistani registration number plate and a white-coloured handmade number plate on the front. The tax collecting authority said that the chassis number of the vehicle matched the one shared by the UK authorities.

"We are also looking at how the car arrived in Karachi. Definitely, the car reached Karachi with fake shipment and registration documentation," the Customs officer explained.

The vehicle was sold to the owner by another person who cleared all required documentation from the concerned authorities, an initial investigation found.

The CCE said that Sindh Excise and Taxation department illegally registered this stolen vehicle without completing all legal formalities.

"The prime suspect, Naveed, sold the luxury vehicle to Jameel with the facilitation of an official at Sindh Excise Department," a CCE spokesperson said.

Officials took the owner of the residence and the individual who sold him the vehicle into custody after the house owner failed to provide adequate documents.

The FBR's Collectorate of Customs lifted the vehicle to its depot after failing to find its keys.

"Due to non-availability of the key of the said vehicle, arrangements were made to lift the vehicle by car carrier. The recovered vehicle was loaded on a car carrier for taking it to ASO HQ-NMB Wharf for the further completion of legal formalities," said the board.

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Moreover, customs claimed to have seized another vehicle from the same person during a raid on the DHA apartment.

The police said that a case had been registered and further investigation is underway.

• Pakistan