KARACHI: Collector, Model Customs Collectorate, Preventive, Dr Saifuddin Junejo has said that criminal elements are now using sea route for smuggling of contraband items and petroleum products following strict vigilance on roads.
Junejo told Customs Today that first time Anti-Smuggling Organization (ASO) foiled a bid to smuggle a huge quantity of Iranian diesel concealed in secret cavities of a ship in open sea. Though, the customs has almost controlled the smuggling of all items by roads, the smugglers have now shifted the means of transportation.
“The ASO made a seizure of 26,500 liters of non-duty paid diesel along with launch and seizures of contraband goods, electronics items, household items, cigarettes and other merchandise goods by ASO worth of millions of rupees”, the collector added.
“The staff of ASO has affected a seizure of 26,500 liters Iranian diesel along with a wooden boat named Al Nasiri during an operation in the sea near the coast of Karachi. This result oriented operation was launched pursuant to a secret information to the effect that a fishing boat having fitted with specially designed tanks would be used for transportation of Iranian diesel from coast of Pushikan, Iran to Karachi”, Juenjo said.
“While giving details of the seized items, Collector said that so far some 5,540 mobiles phones seized, 205kg of charas, 1753192 pouches of contrabands, 37 bottles of liquor, 47,569 yards of clothes, 15,567 boxes of cigarettes, 4 smuggled vehicles, 907 electronic goods, 167,265 liters of POL, 1451 household goods, 2 boats, 29,681 cosmetic, perfumes and toiletries, 260 tyres and tubes, 8,297 crockery, 29,000 tablets/medicines and 2,169 kilograms of tea.
