HYDERABAD: The Anti-Smuggling Organization (ASO) Hyderabad, Customs Preventive Sukkur, impounded the smuggling of 500 packs of cigarettes valued at Rs300000 involving duties and taxes of Rs318000 during a raid near Sabzi Mandi, Truck Stand, Shikarpur, Sukkur division, during nine days of August 2017-18.
As per details, Hyderabad Customs Collector Akhlaq Ahmad Khattaq received a tip-off about the smuggling of foreign origin cigarettes through a local transport company. He immediately formed a raiding party under the supervision of Additional Collector Rehmatulah Vistro. The team intercepted a vehicle on said address and recovered foreign origin cigarettes.
Prior to the recovery, the officials asked the driver to show the documentary proofs regarding the legal import and lawful possession of the recovered items, but he could not do the same. So the officials confiscated the items under the customs bylaws besides impounding the vehicle being used for smuggling.
The seized items have been shifted to Sukkur Warehouse while a case has been referred to the Customs Adjudication for further proceedings. The customs will present the said item for auction if the case is decided in favor of the department.
The ASO team, consisting of Assistant Collector Mumtaz Ali Ghangro, In-charge Checkpost Inspector Makhan Khan Behan, Inspectors Jurial Abbasi, Ayaz Alishah, Sepoys and a Driver and others, participated in the action carried out against the smuggling.
Officials said efforts are on to check the smuggling in the region adding that surveillance has been enhanced on roads to keep an eye on the smuggling of non-duty-paid items and vehicles.
