HYDERABAD: The Anti-Smuggling Organization (ASO), Customs Preventive Hyderabad, has seized different smuggled cigarettes’ brands worth Rs639200 involving duty and taxes of Rs946272 during a recent action.
The Hyderabad ASO team, following the instructions of Collector Akhlaq Ahmad Khattaq, conducted a raid on the region to curb the smuggling. Under the supervision of Additional Collector Rehmatulah Vistro, the team intercepted a vehicle near Toll Plaza, Mirpur Khas Road, and recovered smuggled cigarettes of different brands including Pine Light made in Korea, Reds Virgin made in England and other ones. The items were being smuggled from Karachi into Mirpur Khas.
The officials demanded the driver to show the legal documents regarding the loaded items but he could not produce the same therefore officials confiscated the items under the Customs Act-1969 and the seized items were shifted to the Customs House.
After making a seizure report, the ASO team sent the case to the Customs Adjudication for further legal action against the accused person who was using a different method of smuggling through local transports.
The ASO team, comprising Superintendent Ghulam Shabbier Phulpoto, Inspectors Imdad Ali Abro, Abdul Majeed Barich, Sepoys Neonmal, Omar Solangi, Sadique Sher Akbar and Meheram Thebo, took part in the operation.
Officials said that Hyderabad Customs Collector Akhlaq Ahmad Khattaq had directed that effective measures be taken for curbing the smuggling in the region. They added that the anti-smuggling officials have enhanced the vigilance on roads to keep an eye on the movement of the smuggled items and vehicles.
