PESHAWAR: Customs intelligence wing has foiled a bid to smuggle health and environmental hazardous contraband goods worth Rs 102.05 million.
The Directorate General of Intelligence and Investigation (Customs), Peshawar, during its anti-smuggling operation, seized huge quantity of dangerous chemicals Panparag Snuff and Gutaka (Indian origin).
On specific information received by Shaukat Ali, Director General Intelligence and Investigation (Customs), the Regional Office Peshawar seized three suspicious ten wheeler Hino trucks stuffed with smuggled goods at Warsak Road near M-I Motorway entry point. Thorough search of the aforesaid trucks led to the recovery of foreign origin smuggled goods including CFC refrigerant (Brand Genatron 22) likely US origin (US Regulation printed on cylinders); quantity 490 cylinders (13.6-kg each); Panparag Snuff and Gutaka (Indian origin), quantity 5700-kg; cigarettes: Dunhill and Pine brands (Korean origin), 529 cartons; mobile phones (Q mobile brand), 920; mobile phones (Mobo brand), 6000; mobile phones (Nokia brand), quantity 288; welding rods, 3540-kg; padlocks 70 cartons; window/split AC (Mitsubishi and Skywood brands), 88; cycle chain, 140 cartons; gold line tear tape, 42 cartons; plastic wire, 160-kg and pencils, 29 cartons.
The CFC refrigerants are hazardous as CFC (Chloro Floro Carbon) substances which are ozone depleting chemicals are banned for import under Annex-F to the Import Policy Order (IPO), 2016. Similarly, Panparag Snuff and Gutaka (Indian origin) mentioned at S No 2 of the above table are also banned under IPO being hazardous for human consumption. Some of the packing/cartons have been found printed with expression “In transit to Afghanistan via Bandar Abbas, Iran”.
The smuggled goods along with three trucks have accordingly been seized for violation of the provisions of the Customs Act, 1969 and Imports and Exports (Control) Act, 1950 red with IPO, 2016. The estimated value of the seizure is Rs 102.05 million (goods Rs 93.5 million and trucks Rs 9 million).
