ISLAMABAD: Following special instructions from the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), the Anti-Smuggling Organisation (ASO) claims to have seized foreign origin fabric, tyres and tubes worth more than Rs 7 million during action.
According to details, the anti-smuggling squad, following credible information received through the informers, intercepted a passenger bus on the Rawalpindi-Peshawar GT Road for checking.
Subsequently, the officials found different types of smuggled items, including 7,876 yards of foreign origin fabric worth Rs 6.963 million and 40 tyres and tubes worth Rs 400,000 during checking.
The ASO officials asked the driver of the bus to show documents regarding the legal import of the items and whereabouts of owners, but the driver could not give any satisfactory response to the squad.
The team, comprising Superintendent Zargam Dil, Deputy Superintendent Rana Shakeel, Inspector Abdul Malik and Deputy Superintendent Ahmed Junaid, taking legal action, confiscated the items under the Customs Act 1969, besides registering a first information report (FIR) against the suspects.
Officials said that fabric and tyres were attractive items for smugglers, mainly because of their higher demand in the local markets.
They added that Islamabad Customs Collector Dr Arslan Subuctageen appreciated the performance of the ASO team and directed them to continue the operations against the smuggling, besides enhancing vigilance on roads; especially those are used by the smugglers to supply the smuggled items in markets.
The officials said that anti smuggling activity will be continued during new financial year 2016-17 with more effective efforts, adding that anti-smuggling campaign had contributed handsome revenue in financial year 2015-16.
