SIALKOT: The Customs Intelligence and Investigation Department, Gujranwala has impounded a non-custom paid Toyota Surf Hilux worth Rs 1.5 million on Grand Trunk (GT) Road near Wazirabad.
As per the details, under the directions of Deputy Director Ali Zeb Khan, Superintendent Tariq Rafique constituted a team under the supervision of Intelligence Inspector Syed Majid Raza to check vehicle on the road. The Inspector along with his team members, constables Usama, Boota and Mubashir, started checking vehicles and intercepted a suspicious Toyota Surf Hilux which was plying on road without payment of custom duty and registration number.
The team asked the driver about customs clearance documents but he was failed to produce the same. The driver namely Riasat told the team he was not the owner of the vehicle rather the owner was a renowned personality and his vehicle could not be impounded. However, the team impounded the vehicle and shifted it in the compound of department while the team released the driver after proper interrogation.
The team also instructed the driver if the owner of the vehicle will produce documents till November 12 during office hours, then the vehicle will be released after charging reasonable fine according to law otherwise the team will register a case and refer the case to the Adjudication Court. If the learned court will announce judgment in the favour of the department, the department will be authorize to auction the vehicle under Customs Act 1969.
An official of Customs Intelligence told Customs Today that the performance of department is much better to curb smuggling and impounding non-customs paid vehicles. He said that the officials of department is working honestly to promote name of department whereas the department Gujranwala Region has name in good book of Federal Board of Revenue and higher authorities of customs department.
