ISLAMABAD: Fencing on border is very important job being carried out by Pak-Army. With the shortage of manpower and weapons, the KPK Customs is unable to control smuggling ideally. The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) had appointed the Frontier Corps at the International Pak-Afghan border of Torkham and FATA and other border areas through issued SRO. Border management must be a top priority of the government. Director General Intelligence and Investigation (I&I) Shaukat Ali has issued a directive to all the field formations which effect major seizures of contraband and smuggled goods. It is an eye opener that banned and smuggled goods are brought under the excuse of Afghan transit trade to Iran which ultimately reaches Pakistani market. Peshawar police is extraordinarily cooperative with the I & I Peshawar. KPK Police handed over huge contraband and smuggled goods to Customs during the Financial Year 2016-17.
The sources of I&I told Customs Today that it is worth mentioning that after assumption of charge by Shaukat Ali, DG I&I has issued directives to all the field formations to effect major seizures of smuggled goods. The DG I&I and Director I&I Peshawar Muhammad Saleem has also been in the forefront to effect major seizures quite recently including a large number of non-Customs paid (NDP) vehicles, mobile phones, electronic goods and other items brought to the country illegally evading duty and taxes. All the seizures of contraband goods have been made from April 8 to April 14.
During the beginning of current week, the sources said that on a tip-off, DG I&I Shaukat Ali informed the staff concerned that an attempt would be made to smuggle foreign origin health and environment hazardous contraband goods to down country destination. Director I&I Muhammad Saleem constituted a team under the supervision of Deputy Director Khial Muhammad who requested the Peshawar police for extending backing in the operation against three trucks loaded with smuggled items.
Three suspicious ten-wheeler Hino trucks with registration No: C-2624 lower Dir, Z-9117 Peshawar and Z-6130 Peshawar were intercepted. The drivers on inquiry could not produced import/legal credentials for permission of foreign origin goods therefore vehicles were brought on the premises of the Directorate for detailed examination. The search led to recoveries of different contraband goods worth millions of rupees. The goods loaded on three trucks are valued Rs102.5million and separately the goods are worth Rs93.5million whereas the value of trucks is Rs09million. Three FIRs have been registered and three persons have been arrested.
He said the impounded contraband items in such a huge quantity have been seized first time in the history of I&I KPK. On the very next day, the I&I Peshawar effected another major seizure of 100 cylinders of CFC valued around Rs. six million. The chlorofluorocarbons (CFC) has long been banned by the Federal Government in compliance with the international obligations under the Montreal Protocol, however these banned and hazardous gases find its way through long porous Pak-Afghan border and enter the black market.
