ISLAMABAD: Directorate of Customs Intelligence and Investigations Additional Director Abdul Waheed Marwat has said that the Customs Intelligence seized smuggled goods and non-duty paid vehicles worth Rs 1,070.41 million during first four months of the fiscal year 2016-17.
During an exclusive interview with Customs Today, Additional Director Waheedullah Marwat said that his directorate arrested nine persons and registered 393 cases of smuggling during the said period. He said that the seized items include non-duty paid vehicles, cigarettes, diesel, blankets, foreign origin tea, 133 kilograms fine quality hashish, 10 kilograms opium and a huge quantity poppy seeds. He said that there is significant decrease in smuggling attempts due to effective anti-smuggling policies of the government.
Additional Director Waheedullah Marwat said that Enforcement department is working on comprehensive strategy and recovering outstanding amount of taxes and duties on priority basis while on the other hand his directorate instructed legal section to pursue cases which are pending in courts without any delay.
In reply to a question Additional Director Waheedullah Marwat said that that during first four months of current Fiscal Year Customs Intelligence and Investigation team impounded 171 non duty paid vehicles amounting to Rs460.22 million, while smuggled cigarettes worth Rs4.784 million were also taken into custody. He said that those goods which were seized under section 157 of Customs Act includes 111 non duty paid vehicles, different goods amounting to Rs11.9 million which includes perfumes, soap, cosmatics and other different goods. He said that smuggling will not be totally eliminated without documentation of national economy. He said that smugglers are earning huge profit from smuggling activities and are investing the same in other smuggling attempts because they cannot invest this income in national economy.
He said that Customs Intelligence and Investigation department is going to adopt a comprehensive strategy to curb smuggling attempts in the region.
He said that Customs Intelligence team seized includes 2,12,624 yards of non duty paid cloths, food grains amounting to Rs2.59 million, auto spare parts amounting to Rs3.64 million and different electronics goods.
He said that customs authorities recovered greese amounting to Rs1,50,000, mobil oil, crockery, zafarani patti worth Rs4.625 million, toys amounting to Rs1,70,000.
He said that Customs Intelligence and Investigations authorities using all available resources to curb smuggling attempts in the region.
