FAISALABAD: Showing exceptional performance under the supervision of Additional Collector Azmat Tahira, the Customs Intelligence and Investigation seized smuggled goods worth Rs 117.4 million involving duty/taxes amounting to Rs 89.72 million during first five months of current fiscal year 2015-16.
The Customs Intelligence team comprising Deputy Director Riaz Hussain, Senior Intelligence Officers Muhammad Zahid Saleem, Mirza Muhammad Tahir iqbal, Intelligence Officers Muhammad Mansoor Nasir and Muhammad Saleem and Sepoyes Mukhtar Ahmad, Muhammad Iqbal Ghulam Ghous and Musadiq Ahmed conducted various raids against smugglers and made almost 51 cases during the said period.
While Talking to Customs Today, officials said that Director Imran Saud and Additional Director Azmat Tahira have designed an effective strategy to eliminate the menace of smuggling in Faisalabad region. They added that Tahira has instructed all the officers to work hard and bring the elements involved in the smuggling to the book.
During July, 2015, the Customs Intelligence confiscated smuggle goods worth Rs 16.1 million and recovered Rs 11.79 million in wake of duty/taxes on smuggled goods. However, eight cases were registered during the said period against smugglers.
The department held smuggled items worth Rs 19.866 million involving duty/taxes amounting to Rs 13.24 million during August, 2015, while seven cases were lodged against the accused persons.
Meanwhile, contraband items worth Rs 25 million involving duty/taxes worth Rs 20.2 million during last month (September) of first quarter for running fiscal year, besides registering 12 cases against smugglers.
During October, the Customs Intelligence detected many smuggling cases and seized various smuggled goods worth Rs 17.3 million involving duty/taxes amounting to Rs 11.35 million. It also registered ten cases during the month.
Keeping its performance up, the department held smuggled goods worth Rs 39 million involving duty/taxes amounting to Rs 33.13 million during November. However, 14 cases have been registered against accused persons.
The department confiscated smuggled goods including pine nuts (chilghoza), Iranian juices, garments, vehicles and other items. The officials said that intelligence had held all items after the owners failed to produce documents regarding the legal import of the items.
All cases have been sent to adjudication for further legal action.
