FAISALABAD: Faisalabad Customs ASO seized huge quantity of smuggled goods worth Rs 120 million.
The Model Customs Collectorate (MCC) Multan Preventive field unit of Customs Anti Smuggling Organization (ASO) Faisalabad seized huge quantity of miscellaneous goods and two carrier vehicles worth Rs 120 million during a successful crackdown against non duty paid items and registered a case against smuggler.
Sources told Customs Today that Collector Multan Customs Muhammad Saleem has stepped up crackdown against smuggled goods under special directions of Chief Collector Central Region Zeba Hai Azhar to curtail smuggling in the South Punjab and anti smuggling squad has stepped up its efforts in the jurisdiction. Collector Muhammad Saleem has devised new strategy against smuggling after the formation of Preventive Collectorate to thwart any attempt of smuggling in the region.
Collector Muhammad Saleem has integrated anti smuggling strategy to curb menace of smuggling in the South Punjab and Anti Smuggling Organization has also accelerated operations in the territory for curbing smuggled goods after clear directions from Chief Collector.
Additional Collector Ali Abbas Gardezi said that Collector Muhammad Saleem received credible information that bulk quantity of contraband smuggled goods loaded on two containers was coming from Quetta and its final destination was Lahore city. He immediately constituted a raiding team. The team enhanced the vigilance on Motorway and started a searching operation on the roads. During search the team intercepted vehicle with two containers loaded with foreign origin f/o cloth 25000 kgs, betal nuts 300 kgs and huge quantity of foreign origin f/o smuggled tyres. ASO Superintendent Anjum Sheraz asked the driver to show documents. But driver of the vehicle failed to present import documents to Customs team so they took the said goods in their custody along with containers after framing seizure report.
Additional Collector Ali Abbas Gardezi said that under the dynamic leadership of Collector Preventive Multan Muhammad Saleem the MCC adopted aggressive strategy and anti smuggling squad has started special vigilance of the few suspected areas at major entry points of the region with the assistance of the law enforcement agencies. He said that Multan Customs would continue its anti smuggling activities in the region to curb the menace of smuggling from the jurisdiction.
He further stated that Multan Customs will continue its intensive anti smuggling work without compromising the objectives of trade facilitation in region. Anti Smuggling Organization has enhanced intelligence exchange and cooperation with law enforcement agencies to curb smuggling in the jurisdiction. Further investigations against smugglers are still under process.
The staff took part in the said seizure comprised Additional Collector Ali Abbas Gardezi, Superintendent Anjum Sheraz, Inspector Muhammad Qazi, Azhar Zaheer and other sepoys. Customs Chief Collector Central Region Zeba Hai Azhar appreciated the preventive staff of MCC Multan to successfully conduct this seizure.
