HYDERABAD: Collectorate of Customs Anti-Smuggling Organization seized 2480kg of betel nuts worth Rs1240000 and Indian origin gutka 1950 packets and 214500 saches worth Rs2145000 during intelligence based operation at Sukkur Express, Hyderabad Railway Station.
Collector Khalid Hussain Jamali told Customs Today that after receiving credible information about some smuggling attempts, he adopted a comprehensive strategy to foil these attempts and directed Additional Collector Dr Aamer Nawaz Hamid to form anti-smuggling squads.
Sources said that a customs ASO team formed, under supervision of deputy collector Syed Kareem Adil comprising In-charge Zulfiqar Ali Jamali, Engr Haresh Kumar, Inspector Maqbool Ahmed Rind, sepoyes, driver and other staff.
The above-mentioned team searched bogey of Sukkur Express and recovered non-duty paid goods. No one claimed ownership of the recovered goods. The ASO team seized all the goods and deposited the same in State Warehouse.
During another operation, the ASO team intercepted a public vehicle and recovered 739 boxes of ceramic tiles smuggled from Iran worth Rs 1.6 million.
Prior to the recovery of items, the officials asked the driver to produce documents regarding legal import of the goods but he could not prove anything.
The team impounded the items under the Customs Act and a case registered against the accused. The case has also been sent to the customs adjudication for further legal action. The ASO deposited the confiscated goods to Hyderabad State Warehouse.
