HYDERABAD: Effective measures against organized smuggling of contraband goods and non customs paid (NDP) vehicles by the Director of Intelligence & Investigation FBR (Customs), Hyderabad has resulted into recovery of huge quantity of smuggled goods during first quarter of financial year 2019-20 (Jul-Sep 2019).
During an exclusive interview with Customs Today, Dr. Sadiqullah Khan said the Directorate of Intelligence & Investigation-FBR (Customs) has recorded 50 seizures worth Rs 167 million in the first quarter of current financial year as against 43 seizures worth Rs 112 million in the corresponding period last years, showing an increase of 50% in terms of value.
He said the directorate seized 25 NCP vehicles worth Rs 50 million, 99130 kgs of banned betel nuts worth Rs 45 million, 8 vehicles u/s 157 worth Rs 42 million and other miscellaneous goods including 11050 kgs of glassware, 700 dandas of cigarettes, 118 tyres, 506 packets of gutka, 111 laptops, 600 pcs of digital receivers, 8 LED TVs worth Rs 30 million. There is significant improvement in number and value of seizures this year as compared to the same period last year. The directorate has already made 5 seizures worth Rs 19.364 million in a recent joint operation with MCC Hyderabad where four NCP vehicles were detained for further verification.
The ASO wing of the directorate has vigorously enhanced the monitoring of suspected routes to intercept smuggled goods. The directorate has also re-strategized the use of information sharing and coordination with other agencies on the movement of smuggled merchandise and NCP vehicles. These special measures have resulted in some remarkable seizures made during current financial year and also created a deterrence on the people involved in smuggling of different kinds of high value goods which is quite evident from the recent performance of ASO wing.
In addition, the Directorate has collected revenue amounting to Rs 50.863 million through public auction of confiscated goods/vehicles during current financial year as against Rs 34.553 million in corresponding period last year which showed approx 50% increase in terms of revenue.
Director Dr. Sadiqullah Khan appreciated the hard work and efforts of the ASO teams under command of Additional Director Syed Naeem Akhtar and Deputy Director Syed Raza Naqvi and intelligence officer Zulfiqar Ali Jamali, Syed Zaigham Ali Shah, Irfan Gani and encouraged them to enhance the efforts to arrest revenue loss, and discourage the smuggling of non duty paid vehicles and contraband items.
