KARACHI: The Customs Collectorate Preventive has decided to initiate announced crackdown against ‘khapiyas’ (carriers), who are involved in illegal trade of non-duty paid items particularly at airports.
Sources told Customs Today that Collector Preventive Syed Muhammad Tariq Huda has recently held a meeting at his office in which he advised the officers to take strict measures at arrival/departure lounges at Jinnah International Airport (JIAP) to keep a vigilant eye on ‘khapiyas’ (carriers).
The meeting was attended by Additional Collector Syed Asad Raza Rizvi, Additional Collector Feroz Alam Junejo, Deputy Collector Ali Turrabi, Deputy Collector Ajmad Lashari and others.
During the meeting, the Collector Syed Muhammad Tariq Huda stressed upon more effective actions against the ‘khapiyas’ and also lauded the efforts of the customs officers and officials who are deployed at arrival/departure of JIAP.
The Collector Preventive emphasized that the customs authorities at airport should increase their vigilance and keep vigilant eye on khapiyas who are involved in trading non-duty paid items into the country.
It is pertinent to mention here that the customs authorities in recent days have foiled and seized millions of worth non-duty paid items and consignments including electronic stuff, computer accessories, cell phones and contraband items.
In the meeting, it was also decided that the customs authorities with the consent of the Federal Board of Revenue-FBR would increase the “risk profiling” of the celebrities after the massive money laundering charge against the model girl Ayyan Ali.
Responding to a query, the sources revealed that the Customs authorities have also prepared a list of khapiyas for starting crackdown against them.