PESHAWAR: A money laundering bid was foiled at the Bacha Khan International Airport Peshawar on Tuesday after the customs officials arrested a smuggler for attempting to transport a large amount of foreign currency to Dubai, Customs officials informed Customs Today.
The Air Flight Unit posted at the BIAP under the leadership of Assistant Collector Customs Asma Javed Paracha apprehended Sajad Ahmad for possession of 310,000 Saudi Riyals and 229,000 Dirham.
Asma Javid Paracha informed Customs Today that on an actionable tip-off given by Collector Customs Gull Rahman about the presence of a suspect, a team was constituted headed by Superintendent Noor-ul-Amin, Inspector Azhar and Inspector Naeem Sardar along with other staff members of the AFU Customs House Peshawar to thwart the bid to smuggle the currency which was smartly packed in the luggage.
The baggage was thoroughly searched by the AFU staff members that resulted in the trace of the said amount of foreign currencies. The currency regulations allow a passenger to legally carry maximum $5000 on an international flight.
A case against the smuggler held has been filed while further interrogation is underway for which the smuggler has been shifted somewhere.
The revenue collection of the AFU Peshawar Airport has increased and it has collected Rs32.7million Customs Duty during 23 days of January. An amount of Rs30.4million revenue has been generated as Sales Tax during 23 days of January.
The AFU of the Bacha Khan International Airport in this way has collected Rs25.67million of Withholding Tax in 23 days of January which has been more than the amount generated during 23 days of January in previous FY2016-17.
AC Asma Javid Paracha lauded the efforts of the AFU BIAP staff and said more efforts are underway to increase the revenue generation.
