LAHORE: Under the supervision of Collector Tayyeba Kayani, a customs team deputed at Allama Iqbal International Airport (AIIA) foiled an attempt to smuggle high-value mobile phones and recovered 37 iPhones worth approximately Rs11.5 million.
The operation was carried out by the vigilance team led by Assistant Collector Customs Simrah alongside Superintendent Shahid Ali. Acting on specific intelligence of the collector, the officials intercepted a passenger, identified as Umer Farooq, who had arrived from Sharjah on a Fly Jinnah flight.
Upon inspection of the passenger’s belongings, the customs team discovered the concealed iPhones, which were being brought into the country without proper declaration. The recovered phones are believed to have been intended for the black market, where their value significantly exceeds their official price due to evasion of duties and taxes.
Collector Customs Tayyeba Kayani emphasized the commitment of her team to curb smuggling and protect the national economy from illicit trade. She lauded the efforts of her team for their vigilance and timely action in apprehending the suspect.
The passenger has been taken into custody, and further investigation is underway to identify other individuals involved in the smuggling attempt.
