LAHORE: Model Customs Collectorate Lahore Preventive’s Anti-Smuggling Organization (ASO) seized smuggled items and non-duty paid vehicles worth Rs 287 million during first ten months (July-April) of the current fiscal year 2014-15.
According to details, the ASO impounded one vehicle worth Rs 1.2 million and smuggled items worth Rs 9.50 million, making a total of Rs 10.70 during the first month, July, while the organization impounded three vehicles worth Rs 5 million and seized smuggled items worth Rs 11.61, besides, registering 21 cases during August of current fiscal year.
The ASO impounded one vehicle worth Rs 1.5 million and made 26 cases against the illegally imported goods during September, while in the next month, October the ASO seized smuggled goods worth Rs 61.43 million in 12 cases.
The ASO impounded one vehicle worth Rs 800,000 and seized contrabands valued at Rs 25 million in 23 cases during November, whereas in December the ASO impounded one vehicle worth Rs 800,000 and seized illegally imported goods and article worth Rs 10 million in 15 cases.
During January, 2015, the ASO impounded one vehicle worth Rs 800,000, besides registering 15 cases of contrabands worth Rs 16 million, whilst during the month of February the ASO confiscated smuggled goods worth Rs 36 million and registered 10 cases, besides impounding a vehicle worth Rs 3 million.
Similarly the organization impounded two vehicles worth Rs 2.2 million and held illegal goods worth Rs 35 million in 20 cases during March. On the other hand, the ASO seized goods worth Rs 14 million in 16 cases during April. The ASO team of Lahore Preventive lodged 178 cases during July-April of current fiscal year2014-15.
The major confiscation included curtain cloth, vehicles, auto parts, plastic granules, electronics items, liquor and miscellaneous illegally imported goods and articles.
The ASO conducted the raids on the directives of Lahore Preventive Collector, Mukarram Jah Ansari, while the Customs Superintendent Mumtaz Ajmal Mian with his inspectors and deputy superintendents including Saleem Akhatar,Ijaz Rasool, Khalid Butt, Shahid Bhatti and Sajad Bukhari conducted operation to curb the smuggling.
On the other hand official officials told Customs Today that Collector Mukarram Jah Ansari has been taking keen interest in curtailing the smuggling activities in the jurisdictions of the collectoarte and is successful to a great extend as a few major seizures including 30 trucks of curtain cloth, mega ACs case, large quantity of gold confiscation at the airport, has imposed heavy losses to the smugglers and resultantly they have reduced their activities.
