LAHORE: The Customs Preventive Anti-Smuggling Organization (ASO) has seized foreign origin smuggled goods worth Rs 32 million during the month of December 2016 involving duty and taxes to the tune of million of rupees.
As per details the seized goods include latest foreign origin smuggled smartphones of different brands (100 numbers) smuggled Gutka (400 kilograms), foreign origin smuggled cigarettes of high end brands (0.5 million sticks), firecrackers 670 kg, Iranian origin smuggled herbs 8013 kg and welding electrodes 3556 kilograms.
In addition, the anti vehicle smuggling squads of ASO, Lahore seized smuggled vehicles worth millions of rupees which include Audi A-4 Model 2014, Toyota Land Cruiser Model 2005, Mercedes Benz Model 1990, Toyota Estima Luxury Van Model 2002, Nissan Skyline Sports Model 2002, Mitsubishi Pajero Model 1997, Toyota Land Cruiser Prado Model TZ 1999 and Toyota Hilux Surf Model 1992.
The non-customs paid items were impounded on the directions of Collector of Customs Preventive Zulfiqar Younas and under the supervision of Assistant Collector Asim Awan.
Sources said that the ASO Anti-Smuggling Organization has intensified crackdowns against the smugglers adopting zero tolerance against the illegal business harming the legal business at the cost of billions of rupees losses to the national exchequer.
The sources said that the assistant collector on the instructions of the collector of customs has initiated monitoring and vigilance of the squads to get good results.
