MULTAN: Under the dynamic leadership of Collector Syed Imran Bokhari, Collectorate of Customs, Enforcement seized smuggled goods and non-duty paid vehicles worth Rs437.29 million during the month of December which is a 7 percent increase in terms of value, compared to the corresponding time period of previous financial year.
According to the details, the Collectorate impounded 5 carrier vehicles, 40 non-duty paid vehicles, 14265 kilograms of betel nuts, food items (dry fruit/skimmed milk) 31 kilograms, HSD 11300 liters, 61 mobile phones, and other items.
Multan Collectorate under the command of Collector Syed Imran S. Bukhari and Additional Collector Shah Faisal has resolved to promote genuine/legal trade activities and to discourage illegal businesses using smuggled goods.
Since non-duty paid vehicles are prone to misuse in criminal/terrorist activities, the Collectorate under special directions of Dr. Fareed Iqbal Qureshi, Member Customs Operations laid special emphasis on apprehending non-duty paid vehicles which yielded remarkable results. The Collectorate apprehended forty (40) non-duty paid vehicles which is the highest number of non-duty paid vehicles seized by this Collectorate in any given month.
During the month of December 2023, three major cases; one of misc. goods (cigarettes, betel nuts, naswar & gutka etc.) along with 2 carrier vehicles amounting to Rs.27 million, second of misc. goods (food items, watches, ladies hand bags, bedsheets, gents garments, ladies garments, ladies shoes etc.) along with carrier vehicle amounting to Rs.29 million, and third of 10719 kilograms of betel nuts worth Rs.22 million were seized. One person has been arrested and is under investigation, remaining three persons stand convicted.
Revenue through administrative measures including auction, currency deposits, encashments hovers around Rs.124 million. Moreover, strict instructions to the anti-smuggling formations including mobile squads of the Collectorate and airport have been issued to keep vigilance on the illicit movement of essential goods / commodities, Iranian POL, currency, gold and mobile phones.
