LAHORE: Customs Anti-Smuggling Organization (ASO) and Directorate of Customs Intelligence and Investigation (I&I) has confiscated smuggled goods and articles worth Rs400 million
The seized goods and articles includes miscellaneous goods like fabric, tyres, milk, rani juice, dry fruits, welding electrodes etc.
Sources said that in line with the Government policy of zero tolerance for smuggling the Chairman FBR and Member Customs (Operations) issued specific instructions and guidelines to accelerate counter smuggling drive in a more effective manner.
Accordingly, not only storage places of the smuggled goods were targeted but surveillance at strategic points of all road networks was maintained.
The Anti-smuggling drive was personally supervised by the Collectorate of Customs Enforcement and the Director, Directorate of Intelligence & Investigation, Lahore. The hectic efforts produced reliable information to the effect that notorious racket of smugglers were transporting containers loaded with smuggled goods to Lahore.
Through effective planning and clinical accuracy the operations were planned in four districts Okara, Sahiwal, Kasur and Lahore simultaneously falling under the jurisdiction of the Collectorate and the Directorate. A joint team of the Collectorate of Customs Enforcement and Directorate of Intelligence & Investigation, Lahore was constituted and field operations were led by Hassan Fareed, Additional Director and Ms. Sidra Naz, Assistant Collector while the operations was carried out under personal supervision of Basit Maqsood Abbasi, Collector, Collectorate of Customs Enforcement, Lahore and Ms. Saima Aftab, Director, Directorate of Intelligence & Investigation, Lahore. Some of the Containers with Smuggled goods fled back towards Baluchistan and two of them were apprehended by the Collectorate of Customs Enforcement Multan.
The preliminary examination of the goods revealed that the detained trucks were of New Baluchistan goods Co owned by the notorious smuggler Nabi Bux, and comprised of miscellaneous goods like fabric, tyres, milk, rani juice, dry fruits, welding electrodes etc. The estimated value of the goods is approx. Rs. 400 million.
During the first quarter of the financial year 2021-22, in pursuance of various anti-smuggling operations on roads and dumping and storage places inside and outside city limits of Lahore the Collectorate of Enforcement and Directorate of I&I, Lahore made 141 seizures of miscellaneous goods like POL products, cloth, cigarettes, auto parts, fabrics, betel nuts, skimmed milk, welding rods, tyres, luxury vehicles and electronics. The net value of seized goods during first quarter of 2020-21 was Rs.3800 million which is way higher than the value of seized goods in first quarter of 2020-21. This success is attributed to an improved strategy for counter smuggling and enforcement.
The real contribution of the counter smuggling drive is increasing the cost of smuggling and creating deterrence for the smugglers while enhancing the potential revenue from legal trade. The Customs has taken bull by the horns and taken robust steps in dealing with the biggest smuggling rackets of the country creating a significant dent to the smuggling and trade in smuggled goods.
