FAISALABAD: The Customs Anti-Smuggling Organization (ASO) has confiscated 8000 kilogram cumin seeds along with carrier vehicle worth Rs 1.3 million involving customs duty Rs 1,66,000.
Sources told Customs Today that Deputy Collector Muhammad Rizwan received information regarding a smuggling bid. After receiving the tip-off, Collector Rizwan immediately constituted a team comprising Superintendent Saeed Akhtar Joiya, Inspectors Khalid Ashraf Noor, Ali Zahid, and Sepoys Liaquat Ali, Israr Ahmad and Muhammad Abdullah to foil the smuggling attempt and seized smuggled goods and vehicles under the Customs Act, 1969.
The ASO team established a check post at Gattwala Toll Plaza and intercepted a Mazda mini truck bearing registration No: LES-14-1805 Model 1974 loaded with 200 bags of cumin seeds (zeera) Indian brand.
The team asked owners of the goods who were later identified as Ihsan Mushtaq, Muhammad Yasin, and Muhammad Asghar to provide legal documents of the said goods but they were failed to provide the same. Therefore the cumin seeds was taken into custody and brought into customs office Faisalabad for further investigations.
After necessary proceedings, the ASO has forwarded the case to Customs Adjudication.
