ISLAMABAD: The Directorate of Customs Intelligence and Investigation Rawalpindi foiled an attempt to smuggle a huge quantity of imported liquor and impounded 2,400 bottles of expensive fine quality of Johnny Walker, Red Label Scotch whisky, worth Rs23million.
The whisky was imported in the name of Tajikistan embassy in Islamabad. The Customs Intelligence Rawalpindi has lodged an FIR and arrested two persons while further investigation is underway.
According to details shared with Customs Today by the Directorate of the Customs Intelligence and Investigation that, on the special instructions of Director General Customs Intelligence, Shukat Ali, actions continue against the smuggling on national level. In this regard, a team of Rawalpindi Directorate of Customs stopped a truck No: TKX-339 near Rawalpindi Carriage Factory.
During a thorough search of the container, about 900 bottles of said brand and 1,500 bottles of fine quality whisky were found. On demand, the driver of the truck named Saqib produced Goods Declaration (GD) No: 84854 of Model Customs Collectorate Appraisement West Karachi which was in the name of Tajikistan embassy. When the customs officials checked the GD, it was different. The GD was about the wine which is affordable item while container was full of whisky.
According to the sources, the container was going to offload the whisky at the Islamabad Vegetable Market. When Customs Intelligence team contacted the Tajikistan Embassy at Islamabad, the consul admitted that the embassy imported a shipment of the whisky but the customs intelligence rejected the claim and impounded 2,400 bottles of whisky.
