LAHORE: The Collectorate of Customs Preventive has confiscated as many as 41 costly mobile phones from Allama Iqbal International Airport on Sunday that were being attempted to smuggle from China to Lahore.
According to details available to Customs Today through credible sources that a passenger identified as Muhammad Billal was travelling from China to Lahore via Shaheen Airlines was checked at the airport when customs preventive recovered 41 smuggled cell phones from his luggage. Sources told that worth of the smuggled mobile phones is almost Rs1 million. The accused Bilal has caused huge loss to the national kitty in the wake of duty and taxes by smuggling of these cell phones.
The Customs authorities has arrested the accused and shifted him to unknown place for further interrogation. Customs will present him before the court on Monday for his remand.
On other hand customs officials have confiscated as many as eight alcohol bottles from passengers travelling via different flights during raid at Allama Iqbal International Airport.
Sources told customs today that the officers conducted operations in different flights coming from Dubai to Lahore, Turkey to Lahore, Jeddah to Lahore and Muscat to Lahore. Customs took action in Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flights, Turkish airways flight, Gulf Air and Saudi Airlines.
During actions in these flights customs staff recovered 8 bottles of alcohol. Customs allowed all passengers to go after confiscation of alcohol bottles from their possession.
The security officers have launched an investigation into the matter. Customs has started strict checking of the luggage of the passengers specially coming from European countries. Smuggling attempts are being foiled by the customs authorities on daily basis. Customs has confiscated all the recovered alcohol bottles and has started investigation.
It is common practice that passengers coming from European countries carries bottles of alcohol with them but many times they left that in premises of airport to avoid from being arrest.
