MULTAN: Collector Customs Multan Sarfraz Ahmad Warriach has said that the Anti-Smuggling Organization (ASO) has seized 12 vehicles of different models during February.
In an exclusive interview with Customs Today, he said that the seizures were made in collaboration with others federal and provincial law enforcement agencies, including local police and border military police.
Warriah said that the seized vehicles, include Toyota Fielders cars, Toyota Vitz, Toyota Hiace, Hino truck and Toyota Coaster van etc. The market value of the seized vehicles is Rs 13.15 million.
Answering a question, he said that the ASO seized 58 smuggled vehicles worth Rs 61.35 million during the current fiscal year. He revealed that a majority of the vehicles were seized in Dera Ghazi Khan and Taunsa.
In reply to another question, Collector Warriach said the Multan ASO already enhanced their enforcement and surveillance to curb smuggling in the area. He told that smuggling is damaging our economy and the ASO is fighting against smuggling activities to prevent illegal trade.
He told that Customs Multan is striving hard to curb smuggling in the area to maintain a proper balance between control and trade facilitation to ensure speedy flow of appropriate trade.
He informed that a permanent squad is already posted at Taunsa Barrage to stall any attempt of smuggling through tribal areas of Koh-e-Suleman range. The Collector also informed that similar anti-smuggling team is also deployed at Dera Ghazi Khan and Rahim Yar Khan for curbing any smuggling activity.
However, he warned the anti-smuggling organization staff to avoid any harassment to the carriers of lawfully imported legitimate trade.
