KARACHI: In order to curb the smuggling of black-tea Pakistan Customs authorities have recovered and confiscated 106 tonnes of smuggled black-tea all together worth Rs 53 million in last 12 days of June.
Information was received by the authorities of Customs Directorate of Intelligence and Investigation that a huge quantity of smuggled black-tea from Afghanistan was stored at different warehouses in certain Bazaars.
In the first raid on June 6, a team of ASO, MCC Preventive led by Assistant Collector, Muhammad Wasif Malik recovered and confiscated 24 tonnes of smuggled black-tea, worth around Rs 15 million during a raid at warehouses located in Bolton Market and its adjacent areas.
In the second raid on June 8, a team of Customs Directorate of Intelligence and Investigation raided a warehouse in Jodia Bazaar and recovered 34 tonnes of high quality smuggled black tea, worth around Rs 18 million, which was smuggled through Afghan Transit Trade and other illegal routes.
Directorate of Intelligence and Investigation-Customs, Karachi in a joint raid with Pakistan Rangers has recovered and confiscated 48 tonnes of smuggled black tea worth more than Rs 20 million from the warehouses located in Joria Bazaar.
It is worth mentioning that the Directorate of Intelligence and Investigation- Customs by following the directives of Director General Intelligence and Investigation-Customs Luftullah Virk has confiscated smuggled goods worth over 400 million in last three months.
Sources informed Customs Today that the Directorate of I&I has strict directives from DG Luftullah Virk to eliminate the menace of smuggling in order to facilitate the trade and save the national exchequer form being dented.
