SIALKOT: The Customs Intelligence and Investigation has seized 40 tons of smuggled Iranian plywood sheets worth Rs 6 million from a godown near Wazirabad Bela Bye Pass and the arrested owner, Malik Muhammad Shabbir, during a raid.
Reportedly, Customs Intelligence Director General Imtiaz Ahmed received information about the storage of smuggled plywood sheets. On the direction of DG Imtiaz, a team was constituted comprising Superintendent Muhammad Akmal, Deputy Superintendent Muhammad Anwar, Inspectors Muhammad Majid Raza, Saad Iqbal, Agha Naseem Shah and Constables Riasat, Iqbal and others raided the godown.
The team recovered smuggled Iranian ply wood sheets and asked owner of the goods named Malik Muhammad Shabbir to show documents regarding legal import of the items but he could not produce the same. Therefore, the officials arrested the accused persona, besides impounding the recovered items under the customs laws.
The team shifted confiscated sheets in the compound of Customs Intelligence and Investigation whereas the team has registered as case against owner of godown imposing smuggling charges. The accused will be produced before the court to get his physical remand.
Sources said that the owner offered bribe to the officials but they refused and arrested him. They added that various politicians were approaching the customs officials to release the accused person but a case has been registered against him without caring about political pressure.
Superintendent Sajjad Rubbani told Customs Today that the department has started campaign to curb smuggling whereas the departmental teams will raid shops, markets, plaza and trains after some days. A strategy has been finalised to tighten noose around the smugglers in the region.
