PESHAWAR: The Directorate of Intelligence & Investigation (Inland Revenue) Peshawar burnt a huge pile of non-duty-paid/counterfeit cigarettes.
The Directorate of Intelligence & Investigation (Inland Revenue) Peshawar seized 10.15 million of cigarette cartons from July 2017 to December under the Federal Excise Act-2005.
The value of the confiscated cigarettes was more than Rs30million involving duties/taxes of more than Rs12million. These cigarettes comprised of local brands namely Catch, Best, Leader, Hitler, Cheap Classic, Daily, T20, Pine and Half Time. Besides cigarettes, 11,520 liters of beverages were also destroyed for being counterfeit.
These cigarettes are considered to be having more harmful chemicals and ingredients than the genuine cigarettes.
Likewise, counterfeit beverages also pose serious health risks due to unhygienic conditions of unregistered manufacturing premises. The manufacturing facility has already been abandoned after confiscation of its beverages. For this reasons, such cigarettes are liable to be outright confiscation and destruction under the Federal Excise Act-2005.
Mohammad Tariq Arbab, Director of Intelligence & Investigation (Inland Revenue) Peshawar informed the guests about the whole exercise of seizure by the surveillance squad.
The DG I&I (IR) Islamabad also appreciated the efforts of the Directorate. All the officers of the directorate were also present.