FAISALABAD: The Customs Anti-Smuggling Organization (ASO) has seized cigarettes worth Rs10,1740 involving duty and taxes to the tune of Rs7,42,867.
ASO Deputy Collector Muhammad Rizwan Khan, after receiving information regarding some smuggling attempts, made a team following the instructions of Collector Dr Zulafqar to foil the smuggling bid.
The team comprising Superintendent Saeed Akhtar Joiya , inspector Masood Saeed Chohan, Abdul Jabbar, Khalid Ashrif Noor and sepoys Hafiz Naseer Ahmed, Zulfiqar Ali Awan, Liaqat Ali and Muhammad Ashraf raided near Khurrianwala Sheikupura- Lahore Road Faisalabad and found 30 boxes of zafrani patti made in India in different brands, and non-duty paid cigarettes (400- packets), and 3500 pices of cigarettes from a loader Suzuki Bolan bearing registration no. LE- 14- 8392 which was being used for the transportation of the items.
The customs officials asked the accused persons who were identified as Muhammad Iqbal Talib to produced legally documents regarding possession of cigarette, zafrani patti but they failed to provide the same.
Later, the seizure report was submitted to the Adjudication department for further investigation after confiscating the goods.