ASO teams are using all available resources to bring illegal import to a minimum: Deputy Director Ali Zeb Khan
LAHORE: The Directorate of Customs Intelligence & Investigations (I&I) has intensified anti-smuggling operations in order to curtail smuggling of goods and vehicles at all the levels while the teams have been instructed to adopt zero tolerance against type of illegal import of goods and article.
These views were expressed by Customs I&I Deputy Director Ali Zeb Khan while talking to Customs Today here the other day.
The deputy director said that on the directions of Director General Shaukat Ali and Director Rubab Sikandar Customs I&I ASO team consisting Superintendent Waqar Ahmad Cheema and inspectors has intensified anti-smuggling crackdowns.
He added that the director Customs Intelligence has directed the Customs I&I ASO team to go behind the smugglers and nab them to protect legal business.
The director while briefing upon the last quarter’s performance disclosed that the directorate has posted a growth of 33 percent by impounding Rs659 million goods and vehicle, involving duty and taxes worth Rs274 million during the third quarter January March financial year 2016-17.
He said that earlier Rs 494 million non-duty paid goods and vehicles involving Rs 125 million duty and taxes were confiscated during the third quarter January to March financial year 2015-16.
He highlighting performance of Anti-Smuggling Organization the directorate, the deputy director informed that a total of 11 cases of goods and non-customs paid vehicles worth Rs 27 million involving duty and taxes worth Rs 30 million were made during the third quarter January to March financial year 2016-17 while the same period last financial year the total cases were 10 worth Rs 22 million involving duty and taxes worth Rs 14 million.
Similarly, the directorate registered 10 case worth Rs 593 million involving duty and taxes worth Rs 192 million during the month of February financial year 2016-17 when compared to nine cases worth Rs 443 million involving duty and taxes worth Rs 73 million same period financial year 2015-16, he added..
Ali Zeb Khan underscored that the directorate registered 11 cases worth Rs 38 million involving duty and taxes worth Rs 51 million during the month of March financial year 2016-17 as compared to 12 cases worth Rs 28 million involving duty and taxes worth Rs37 million during the same period same period financial year 2015-16.
The deputy director said that although the ASO team is doing well yet it has been instructed to do more to bring the menace of smuggling to a minimum and the teams are going well to achieve the objective.