ISLAMABAD: The Customs Anti-Smuggling Organization (ASO) Islamabad seized 40 cartons of smuggled imperial leather soaps from a passenger bus coming from Peshawar. The bus was stopped on Islamabad Motorway which was going to Rawalpindi. The seized cartons were shown as transit goods coming from Afghanistan.
On a tip-off, the ASO squad set up a picket at Toll Plaza No: 26 (Entrance point of Islamabad) and stopped a passenger bus coming from Peshawar. After a search operation, the ASO staff found the said numbers of imported soaps (Imperial leather)in the bus.
Prior to the recovery, the ASO staff asked the possessor to show any legal proof of the goods but he failed to do so. The ASO staff shifted above said seized goods to state ware house and lodged an FIR against the tax evaders. A case has been forwarded to Investigation and prosecution (I&P) department for further action. The ASO has adopted an intelligence based system to take actions against smugglers and tax evaders.
The sources said the seized goods were Afghan transit goods. The value of the appraised goods is Rs0.383million. The bus was freed.
The ASO showed good performance during the current Financial Year 2016-17. The ASO made about 215 seizures from July to February 2015-16 whereas it made 254 seizures during same period of FY2016-17 while the ASO seized goods valued Rs94.617million from July to February FY2015-16 whereas it seized goods valued Rs176.721million during same period of FY2016-17.
During above said period of FY2015-16, the ASO impounded six NDP vehicles worth Rs13.014million whereas during same period of FY2016-17, the ASO impounded 66 NDP vehicles valued Rs115.375million. During current financial year from July to February FY16-17, the ASO seized various kinds of smuggled goods valued Rs407.096million whereas during same period of corresponding financial year 2015-16, the ASO seized smuggled goods priced Rs180.43million.
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