A major attempt to illegally import banned Indian-origin textile machinery, valued at over $85,000, has been thwarted by customs authorities in Karachi, who uncovered a sophisticated scheme to disguise the goods as a Chinese shipment.

According to a report today, in a coordinated operation, the Collectorate of Customs, Appraisement (West), and the Collectorate of Customs Enforcement intercepted and examined a container at the Karachi International Container Terminal. The shipment was imported from Jebel Ali, Dubai, by a local textile firm under Goods Declaration No. KAPW-HC-62256, dated October 7, 2025, claiming to contain a textile twisting machine from China.

The crucial alert flagging a potential misdeclaration of origin was generated by the Federal Board of Revenue”s new Risk Management System (RMS 2.0), which is currently undergoing a test run at Karachi Port. Following the system”s warning, the consignment was immediately marked by the clearance collectorate for a thorough physical inspection.

Upon physical examination, officials discovered that while the country of origin was declared as China, the machinery was actually manufactured in India. The cargo, a new Textile Twisting Machine with 576 spindles and its essential parts in a semi-knocked down state, showed clear signs of tampering. Investigators noted that manufacturer”s plates and specification markings had been intentionally scratched off or removed in an effort to conceal its true origin.

A case for mis-declaration of origin has been formally registered, and legal proceedings against the importer have been launched. The assessed value of the seized goods is US $85,107.

Authorities stated this successful detection underscores the vigilance of Customs against attempts to import restricted Indian products routed through transshipment hubs and validates the effectiveness of the FBR”s upgraded risk management technology.