KARACHI: Collectorate of Customs Preventive, Anti-Smuggling Organization (ASO) seized huge quantity of foreign origin cutch (katha) worth Rs42.5 million from a warehouse located in Mauripur Road in Karachi.
Sources told that Collector Preventive Saquif Saeed received credible information regarding presence of smuggled goods in warehouses at Truck Stand on Mauripur Road.
He immediately constituted anti-smuggling squad. The ASO team reached the spot but no one was present there and no one came to claim the ownership of the warehouse or the goods. After completion of formalities, the warehouse was searched, which led to recovery of 1700 blocks of foreign origin cutch weighing 42.5 tons. As no one came to claim ownership of the goods, the same were seized.
Customs anti-smuggling squad seized the goods and registered FIR and investigations are still underway.
In another incident, a container coming from Rahimyar Khan was intercepted by ASO staff and search of the container led to recovery of large quantity of smuggled cigarette (Benson & Hedges).
The suspected vehicle was spotted, and the search led to recovery of Benson & Hedges cigarette worth Rs4.0 million concealed under the hay bales. The drivers of the vehicle identified as Muhammad Pervez and Muhammad Ishaq were arrested.
An FIR is lodged and investigations are underway. It may be mentioned here that cigarette smuggling causes loss of billions of rupees annually to the national economy.
It is necessary to mention here that Chief Collector Saifuddin Juenjo directed all relevant anti-smuggling squads to adopt zero tolerance policy against smuggling.
