Customs seizes contraband items worth millions, recovers evaded taxes
ISLAMABAD: To eradicate smuggling and tax evasion through Sost border between Pakistan and China, the Customs Directorate of Investigation and Intelligence conducted a successful operation in Gilgit-Baltistan and seized contraband items worth millions of rupees.
As per the details, Customs Intelligence Director General Lutfullah Virk received a number of complaints and credible information that mis-declarations and tax evasion were being committed in trade with China through Sost border, causing loss to national exchequer.
Following the complaints, DG Lutfullah Virk directed Customs Intelligence Rawalpindi Director Muhammad Saleem to form a team in order to trace out the defaulters involved in tax evasion and smuggling in the said area.
Director Saleem assigned the task to Deputy Director Shahid Jan to launch an operation from Gilgit-Baltistan to Sost border to enforce the customs’ writ in the region and trap the accused persons.
Talking to Customs Today, Deputy Director Shahid, who headed the crackdown in Gilgit-Baltistan, said that the operation remained successful, adding that customs has never taken any action at such a large level before in the said area.
He said that Customs Intelligence has not only confiscated a large quantity of smuggled items but also recovered million of rupees in the wake of taxes, evaded by the accused through mis-declaration.
