FAISALABAD: The Customs Intelligence and Investigation Faisalabad seized foreign origin yellow split peas (dal chana), cumin seed (zeera) and coriander seed (sabit dhania) worth Rs 3.84 million and also impounded the vehicle being used for transportation worth Rs 2 million.
The customs intelligence received information through Additional Director Ismail that smuggled items would passs through the jurisdictions of Faisalabad Customs on which a team established a picket on Jhang Road Faisalabad.
The team of intelligence intercepted a truck bearing Registration No. TKM-711 near Sadar Chowk Jhang Road, Faisalabad and recovered 446 bags of dal chana having weight 13,380 kilogram, 175 bags of zeera containing total weight 4,375 kg and 170 bags of sabit dhania carrying weight 6,800 kg worth Rs 3.84 million involving duty/taxes amounting to Rs 477,266.
Officials asked the driver to produce documents regarding the legal import of the items but he could not show any documents on which customs seized the items and vehicle under Section 157 (2) of Customs Act, 1969, besides serving notice upon accused Muhammad Hassan and Naimatullah Khan.
After a considerable passage of time no one appeared before the seizing agency to claim the ownership of seized goods as well as no proof of its legal import/lawful possession was produced on which customs submitted the seizure report to adjudication.
Superintendent Muhammad Tahir Iqbal, Inspector Main Muhammad Yousif, Muhammad Saleem and Sikander Ali participated in operation to foil smuggling bid.
