ISLAMABAD: The Anti-Smuggling Organization (ASO) has seized foreign origin fabric along with offending vehicle worth Rs 2.4 million in an action against the smugglers who were trying to smuggle the commodity form Peshawar to Lahore.
According to ASO Deputy Collector Shahid Jan, the ASO staff received information that a Suzuki pickup, fully loaded with foreign origin fabric, is coming from Peshawar and will cross the jurisdiction of Islamabad on Tuesday night.
The deputy collector said that the ASO squad intercepted the vehicle bearing registration number BC 9571 on Motorway toll plaza and asked the owner to show the proof of loaded goods but he failed to provide any proof. On this, the ASO staff impounded the offending vehicle with 800 kilograms fabric worth Rs 1.9 million. The customs official said that the value of the impounded vehicle is Rs 0.5 million.
Shahid jan said that an FIR has been lodged against the suspects while goods and vehicle have been shifted to the state warehouse.
The deputy collector said that the squad was led by Deputy Superintendent Rana Shakeel, adding that the collector made an appreciation call to the ASO staff for acting against smugglers. Deputy Collector Shahid Jan said that ASO already enhanced its checking process specially on roads and due to strict checking smuggling attempts are being decreased.
He said FBR directed customs collectorates to adopt zero tolerance policy towards smugglers and not to spare anyone who found involved in smuggling.
