ISLAMABAD: Collectorate of Customs foiled an attempt to smuggle huge quantity of Indian fabric and artificial jewelry worth millions of rupees from Kotli Sathian and arrested one person.
Deputy Collector Wajid Zaman told Customs Today, Collector Zulfiqar Ali Chaudhary received credible information about smuggling of Indian-origin cloth under cover of intra-Kashmir trade. After receiving the information, he immediately constituted an anti-smuggling squad under the supervision of Additional Collector Muhammad Ashfaq, Deputy Collector Wajid Zaman and Superintendent Malik Abid and Farrukh Sati.
The anti-smuggling squad established check post near Kotli Satian (Murree) and started checking of vehicles. During checking, the anti-smuggling squad intercepted a truck bearing registration no: TKV-509 which was coming from Chakothi (Kashmir). The anti-smuggling squad asked the driver to provide any proof that loaded goods are not smuggled but the driver failed to provide any satisfactory proof. The squad brought the vehicle and driver to State Warehouse Islamabad where they found that loaded smuggled goods were comprised Indian-origin expensive saries, lehngaas and shawls.
Deputy Collector said that estimated value of the seized goods is Rs8 million. He said that Customs team registered a case against driver and owner of the goods who was later identified as Papa Shakeel and already wanted in various cases of smuggling. Deputy Collector said that customs team conducted raids to arrest the accused persons.
