SIALKOT: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has ordered the customs officials to keep an eye on suspects in airports to curb money laundering and smuggling. Muhammad Hanif, deputy collector of the Model Customs Collectorate, has informed.
Hanif said that the FBR has received information that miscreants are using airports for money laundering and smuggling.
He said that Sialkot Customs Preventive staff has been given special instructions to carefully check the luggage of all passengers at airport. The officials have been directed to not allow anyone to carry currency more than prescribed amount.
If any person caught red handed in the money laundering and smuggling of prohibited items, the Customs Preventive staff will not spare him whereas the customs department will not accept any political or other pressure to release arrested person, he further said.
A plan has been devised to curb the smuggling of currency, narcotics and other prohibited items through airports; he said, adding that the smuggler will have to bear full weight of law. Revenue leakage will be plugged as it is damaging the national economy, he added.
Not only Pakistan Customs has vowed to curb money laundering and smuggling through the airports but also other law enforcement agencies working at airports have also joined hands to weed the menace, he informed.
It may mention here that the Sialkot Customs busted various money laundering attempts during previous fiscal year 2015-16 and seized foreign currency worth millions of ruppes.
