MULTAN: Collectorate of Customs Enforcement & Compliance (E&C) thwarted smuggling attempt by seizing goods worth Rs81 near Rahim Yar Khan during anti-smuggling operation.
Sources told Customs Today after change in command and posting of Collector Muneeza Majeed Customs Collectorate Enforcement & Compliance has accelerated the anti-smuggling drive in South Punjab.
Collector Muneeza Majeed stepped up the anti-smuggling in the South Punjab on the special directives of Chief Collector Customs Enforcement Lahore Faiz Ahmad.
Customs anti-smuggling drive in Punjab has accelerated substantially after the ease of lock down. During the past ten days, Customs Enforcement & Compliance Multan has thwarted over a dozen of major smuggling attempts in Southern Punjab. The daring leadership has restored the morale of the Customs staff.
Collector received credible information from source that smuggling attempt will be done near Rahim Yar Khan Region. Collector formed special anti-smuggling team led by Additional Collector Syed Ali Abbas Gardezi and Customs staff of MCC Multan intercepted two 10 wheeler trucks containing smuggled goods concealed beneath layers of coal.
As the trucks were being escorted to the Customs office, the armed men in 3 vehicles who were providing safe cover to the smuggling appeared and blocked the trucks transportation.
Their blockade attempt was successfully thwarted as the reinforcement of other squads of ASO Multan reached the spot in time. Customs challenged the miscreants with necessary coordination of local police.
The bravery of the Multan Customs staff forced the armed miscreants to retreat from the spot and they fled away in the dark. With high head and uplifted spirits the trucks were successfully brought to Sadiqabad Dry Port Export Terminal.
Customs teams recovered smuggled goods containing dried skimmed milk, cigarettes, tyres, betel nuts, pan parag, thread and monosodium glutamate.
The net value of the seized goods was almost Rs81 million. Customs Investigation and Prosecution has lodged FIR against offenders to comprehend the smugglers.
Further investigations are still under way.
