ISLAMABAD: Eradicating smuggling and illegal trade is among top priorities of the Customs Intelligence and Investigations, which is working more than its resources.
Customs Intelligence Deputy Director Khaldun ul Haq stated this while giving an interview to Customs Today. Smuggling through transit trade imposed a negative impact on economy, he said, adding that smuggler were using motorway route for transportation of non-duty paid vehicles.
He further revealed that most of the non-duty paid vehicles had been impounded from this route. He added that new suggesstions could be considered to alter strategies for anti-smuggling activities after the appointment of new director general. He said that policy against smuggling adopted by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has not been changed yet.
The jurisdiction of department was being increased, as new offices will be established in different areas, especially in Balochistan and Gwadar. We are in contact with customs authorities of other countries through World Customs Organisation (WCO), especially with China Customs Intelligence.
Actual facts and figures of trade with China could be received after data interchange agreement that is underway, he said, adding that Pakistan Customs already has a system for intelligence sharing with China. Such steps will boost the revenue collections of country.The Customs Intelligence will work as a supportive organisation for customs instead of a member, he informed.
He informed that intelligence offices will also be set up along with routes of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), adding that trade will increase after the completion of the project, but the current system will not be able to handle it. Therefore, there was a need to develop it more, he said.
The Customs Intelligence conducted various successful raids against smuggling attempts during first quarter of new fiscal year 2016-17, he said, adding that the value of seized items was higher than previous year 2015-16.
During first quarter, the intelligence seized cigarette, non-duty paid vehicles, gutka, diesel, petrol, other items worth Rs 826.121 million and registered 308 cases. It also confiscated 24,000 kilogrammes of poppy seeds, 133kg charas and 10kg opium worth millions of rupees, he said.
He informed in detail that the department seized toys worth Rs 1.557 million, 898,030 litres of diesel worth Rs 36.696 million, 175 square feet wood worth Rs 3.649 million, 949 tyres and tubes valued at Rs 5.911 million, auto parts worth Rs 2.119 million, crockery worth Rs 170,000, 96 litres of motor oil worth Rs 28,800, electronics worth Rs 25.178 million, grease worth Rs 150,000, 80,400 litres of petrol worth Rs 3.576 million, gutka worth Rs 3.525 million, 456 tins of saffron worth Rs 200,000 and miscellaneous items worth millions.
He further said that it also impounded 96 vehicles worth Rs 106.1 million under Section 157 of Customs Act, 1969, besides impounding 132 smuggled vehicles worth Rs 307.89 million during the said period.
The intelligence officials impounded 56 smuggling vehicles during July 2016 and 49 vehicles during August. They also impounded 27 smuggled vehicles worth Rs 112.6 million during September, he said.
Furthermore, the department has decided to increase cooperation with law enforcement agencies in order to expedite the operation against smuggled vehicles in the region, he explained.