The Customs and central excise department has been empowered under the new Finance Ordinance 2000 to confiscate goods suspected of being mis-declared or under-invoiced. According to the new law, in the future such goods will face physical verification and examination on charge of mis-declaration and under-invoicing. At present, under the Section 26 of the Customs Act 1969 the officials concerned are authorized only verification of documents. The section does not cover detention of goods found mis-declared or under-invoiced. However, the government deemed it necessary to prohibit the disposal of goods pending the finalization of any proceedings under this Act in relation to the goods. The appropriate officers will be authorized for this purpose under the Finance Ordinance 2000 to detain such goods by a requisition in writing.
