LAHORE: Collectorate of Customs Preventive Anti-Smuggling Organization, in pursuance of information received from Collector Faiz Ahmad, intercepted two Suzuki pickups bearing registration no: LET-15-4781 & LET-17-2819 and recovered 33 cartons from each pickup. The pickups were coming from the godown of Nabi Bukhsh, a resident of Quetta. A total of 66 cartons contained 16,500 packets of cigarettes worth Rs 6.6 million.
Sources told Customs Today that Collector Customs Preventive Faiz Ahmad received credible information about smuggling of non-duty paid cigarettes. He immediately constituted a team under the supervision of Deputy Collector Muhammad Moazzam Raza. The ASO team comprising Superintendent Nasir Minhas, Deputy Superintendent Mansoor Elahi, and Inspectors Gulzar Bhatti and Tariq Baig took part in the operation.
In another operation, the Customs anti-smuggling squad recovered 493 bags of Whey Milk powder weighing 9,860 kilogram along with Hino truck worth Rs 5 million.
In both operations accused persons failed to provide any relevant legal documents regarding possession and transportation of cigarettes and vehicle. After their failure Customs ASO team seized the cigarettes and vehicle and registered a case of smuggling against the accused persons.
Sources told that Customs ASO after completing necessary formalities will forward the case to Customs Adjudication for further proceedings.
It is necessary to mention here that Customs Anti Smuggling Organization expedited their efforts to curb smuggling attempts. Collector Fiaz Ahmad after assuming the charge of his new responsibilities directed all anti smuggling teams to adopt comprehensive strategy to foil attempts of smuggling, the sources concluded as saying.
