LAHORE: The Special Federal Court of Customs Taxation and Anti-Smuggling has approved the three-day physical remands of three accused arrested in a case of currency and gold smuggling at the Allama Iqbal International Airport Lahore.
A special team of the Customs Investigation and Prosecution presented the accused before the customs court and asked for their physical remands for five days to dig out the real culprits behind the smuggling act. Upon the request, the customs court approved their remands for three days. The court has also directed the investigation team to complete the investigation within the given time.
According to details available to Customs Today, the Custom Department aborted a bid to smuggle a big quantity of foreign currency abroad and held two culprits at the Lahore Airport. The custom sources said that, during the baggage search of two Bangkok-bound passengers at the Allama Iqbal International Airport, about $25,000 were recovered.
On the other hand, an accused was also apprehended in the smuggling of gold on Monday morning.
The security personnel conducted a raid on the airport and recovered 1.5 kg of gold worth millions of rupees from a passenger. The action was taken after receiving a tip-off from the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) that one Muhammad Riaz, a resident of Gujrat, is going to smuggle the said gold abroad.
The customs teams of the investigation and prosecution presented them before the court of customs taxation and anti-smuggling and asked for their physical remands that the court approved for three days in the currency and gold smuggling cases.
The Customs Preventive has started strict checking of the goods at the Allama Iqbal International Airport as Haj pilgrims are coming to Lahore airport from different flights. The operation will continue until arrival of the pilgrims completes.
