KARACHI: Lutfullah Virk, the Director General of Directorate General of Customs Intelligence and Investigation (FBR), on Friday convened a meeting of officials of the Directorate General of Customs I&I at the regional Headquarters.
The meeting was attended by the Director Customs I&I-Karachi Region Asif Marghoob Siddiqui, Additional Directors Farrukh Sajjad, Nadeem Ahsan, Deputy Director Amjad Rajpar, ASO Incharge Haji Aslam and others officials.
In the meeting, the Director Customs I&I-Karachi Region briefed the DG Customs Intelligence Lutfullah Virk about the operations and seizures conducted by the ASO team of Karachi regional office against smuggling activities.
The Director Customs I&I further apprised DG Lutfullah Virk that the regional Directorate of Customs Intelligence has seized smuggled goods amounting to Rs 50 million approximately in the current month while three persons have already been arrested during such operations against the smuggling activities.
The Director Customs Intelligence further briefed DG Customs Intelligence about the recent case of smuggling in which the ASO team confiscated electronic goods worth around Rs 20 million transported to upcountry in a TCS delivery van.
The Director General Customs Intelligence asked the authorities concerned to register the FIR within the stipulated time frame in any seizure made by the anti-smuggling organization (ASO).
The Customs intelligence officers also briefed the DG Customs Intelligence about the cases registered with the Collectorate of Customs Adjudication-I for last two years or so. The officers apprised that most of the smuggling cases have been decided by the adjudicating authority in order to recover legitimate taxes during the period of around two years.
On the occasion, the Director General Customs Intelligence Lutfullah Virk stressed upon the officials and officers of the regional directorate to enhance their performance further as being a focal directorate it has more responsibilities as compared to other directorates. The issues pertaining to the scarcity of man-power and latest equipments in the directorate also came under discussion.
The Director General Customs Intelligence and Investigation-FBR assured the authorities concerned that he will raise the said issue before the authorities concerned at government level.
Director General of Customs Intelligence and Investigation-FBR Luftullah Virk will also hold meetings with DG Sindh Rangers Bilal Akbar and the heads of Maritime Security Agency and Coast Guards in connection with evolving coordinated strategy regarding the anti-smuggling activities.
