FBR with help of Intelligence Agency makes a breakthrough
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The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), in conjunction with an intelligence agency, has apprehended four individuals affiliated with an inter-provincial criminal network responsible for fabricating counterfeit sales tax invoices. This criminal syndicate employed various fraudulent tactics, including the creation of counterfeit identification documents via the internet, resulting in a staggering financial loss of more than Rs11 billion to the national treasury.
Among the arrested suspects, one was apprehended in Faisalabad, where a prior criminal case was already registered against him. His modus operandi involved submitting sham sales tax returns on behalf of fictitious companies.
A second suspect was detained at a call center in Islamabad, while the broker or agent linked to the gang hailed from Karachi. In a separate operation, another member of the gang was taken into custody in Faisalabad, a person who had been dismissed from service in 2014 due to involvement in corrupt activities.
These individuals, connected through WhatsApp, routinely exchanged fabricated input and output tax data using Excel spreadsheets as part of their illicit operation. Presently, they are being held in Central Jail in Karachi under physical remand. In contrast, the Directorate of I & IIR has affirmed its unwavering commitment to combating the menace of counterfeit invoices.
The collaborative efforts of the FBR and intelligence agencies have successfully dismantled a significant operation responsible for substantial financial losses to the national exchequer.
The arrest of these individuals highlights the extent of their fraudulent activities and the sophistication of their methods. As they await legal proceedings in Central Jail, Karachi, the authorities remain resolute in their determination to eliminate the scourge of fake invoices and protect the integrity of the nation's finances.
