LAHORE: Collectorate of Customs Preventive Anti-Smuggling Organization (ASO) have seized over Rs 400 million illegally imported smuggled goods and vehicles and planned to achieve the set target of Rs 800 million during the month of March 2020.
This was stated by Additional Collector Customs Muhammad Saeed Wattoo while talking to Customs Today in his office.
He said that on directions of Collector Customs Preventive Basit Maqsood Abbasi ASO operations have been intensified and the whole ASO team is putting hectic efforts to achieve set target of Rs 800 million.
He said that the Collectorte has been directed not to spare smugglers involved in the crime.
During the 10 days of March the ASO seized millions of rupees smuggled clothes, auto parts, betel nuts, rods, cigarettes, chocolates, perfumes, Rani Juice, dry milks and other such item in various ASO operations. The operations were conducted mainly at the godown at various localities in the city.
The additional collector said that collector received information that the goods and articles were dumped and aimed at supplying at various localities inside and outside the city. Wattoo said that a comprehensive strategy was evolved to initiate successful raids on the godown.
A team consisting assitant collector Salman Javaid, Superintendent and inspectors Ashfaq Hamdani and other was constituted that operated with utmost success and recovered over Rs 400 million smuggled goods and articles.
The ASO in a raid at Ali Art at Ghari Shahu seized over Rs 100 million clothes, auto parts, betel nuts, rods, cigarettes, chocolates, perfumes, Rani Juice and dry milks.
In an other raid at godown Satarul Usman at Badami Bagh, the team ASO impounded over Rs72 million contraband items.
The ADC said that during the operations the Customs teams have to face intense resistance as the owners of the godowns attacked the ASO team; however, the ASO team was succeeded in their endeavors. The ASO team has also got FIRs registered at both under Customs Act and concerned polices stations. Further investigations are underway. Collector Basit Maqsood Abbasi appreciated the ASO team, Saeed Watto informed.
