LAHORE: The Customs Anti-smuggling Organization (ASO) team were attacked for impounding illegally imported goods and articles near Masti Gate, sources told Customs Today here.
The sources said that customs ASO staff, during routine patrolling, intercepted a pickup of M/s Pindi Karwan Goods Forwarding Agency loaded with illegally imported goods and article. It was added when the customs team tried to search the pickup and demanded legal import and clearance documents against the goods, eight to ten people attacked and assaulted the customs officials and two custom sepoys, including Aslam Awan and Latif Anjum while in retaliation the men of forwarding agency were also seriously injured.
The sources confirming the incident said that the agency men attacked the customs official to a settle grudge about the recently lodged two FIRs against the agency by the Customs ASO.
It was said that the customs authorities last week registered two FIR against the agency for attempting to supply illegally imported foreign origin ladies woolen cloth, including shalwar, kurta, shawlas, lengha dupatta and other goods with embroidery work worth Rs 15 million.
The ASO impounded the smuggled cloth and also arrested three to four men of the agency under the Customs Act 1969 and sent them to the jail, the sources said, adding on the condition of not to be named, that the ASO would take strict legal action against the agency adopting zero tolerance against the elements involve in the smuggling activities.
On the other hand, the agency said that the customs official have lodged fake FIRs against them for vested interests and raised the issue with top customs authorities.
