LAHORE: Customs Preventive and the Anti-Smuggling Organisation (ASO) have collectively seized smuggled items worth more than Rs 614 million during eight months (July 15 to March 15) of the financial year 2014-15.
As per the available data, the Intelligence and Investigation seized items worth more than Rs 330 million during the eight month.
The major smuggling attempts foiled by Customs Intelligence included vehicles of different brand worth Rs 29 million involving duty and taxes of Rs 118 million, imported cloth worth Rs 18.81 million involving duty and taxes to the tune of Rs 8.63 million, and 725 units of tyres and tubes worth Rs 2.23 million involving duty and taxes to the tune of Rs 1.2 million.
Similarly, officials seized smuggled auto parts worth Rs 8.26 million involving duty and taxes to the tune of Rs 5.36 million, 725 litres of motor oil, foreign cigarettes worth Rs 3.57 million involving duty and taxes worth Rs 4.23 million, electronics worth Rs 35 million involving duty and taxes worth Rs 22.84 million, 213 blanket, 120,000 kg paan prag and saffron leaves, 120kg gutka and miscellaneous goods worth Rs 240 million involving duty and taxes worth Rs 119 million.
On the other hand, the ASO seized contraband items worth Rs 10.17 million between July 15 and August 14, Rs 16 million between August 15 and September 15, Rs 32.80 million between September 15 and October 15, Rs 61.43 million between October 15 and November 15, Rs 26.19 million between November and December, Rs 11 million between December and January, Rs 17 million between January and February and Rs 39 million between February and March 15.
The ASO also seized illegally imported items worth more than Rs 33 million at the Allama Iqbal International Airport Lahore.
In major attempts, the ASO impounded illegally imported vehicles, cloths, motor oil, betel leaves and other items.
The smuggled goods and articles were seized on the instructions of Customs Intelligence Director Imtiaz Ahmad Khan and Customs Preventive Collector Mukarram Jah Ansari.
The illegally imported goods and articles were confiscated in operations conducted under the guidance of Customs Intelligence Additional Director Mohasin Rafique, Deputy Director Saad Atta Rabani and Customs Deputy Collector Shafiqur Rehman.
The operations against the smugglers were conducted under the supervision of Superintendents Nasir Minhas, Mumtaz Ajmal Mian, Deputy Superintendents Saleem Akhtar, Ijaz Rasool, Inspector Sajad Bukhari, Muhammad Hussain and others.
In order to crush smuggling activities in Punjab province, the intelligence director general has called a number of joint meetings of the Lahore Preventive and the Customs Intelligence.
Recently Director General Lutfullah Virk had a meeting with Punjab IG Mushtaq Sukhara seeking Punjab Police’s assistance against the rising smuggling activities.
The IG assured the DG of full support of the police against smugglers, while both the department also appointed focal persons in this regard.
