HYDERABAD: The Anti-Smuggling Organization (ASO) has confiscated non duty paid cigarettes, Gutka and 9 kilograms of super quality opium from a coach worth Rs22.5 million and arrested two accused persons during a crackdown here.
Sources told Customs Today that Collector Customs Collectorate Hyderabad Rehmatulah Vistro received information regarding smuggling of foreign origin contraband items and drugs. Soon after receiving the information, the additional collector constituted a team comprising Superintendent Shabbir Phalphuto, Inspector Rahib Ali Abro, sepoyes, driver and other staff to foil the smuggling bid.
The ASO team intercepted Al Asif coach which was plying on road bearing registration number C-8453 near check post of Jacobabad Sukkur and recovered contraband items which include foreign origin cigarettes, Gutka and super quality 9 kilograms of opium. The market value of seized opium in international market is estimated at Rs 20 million. The ASO team asked the driver of the vehicle to produce legal documents regarding possession of cigarette and Gutka but he failed to provide any relevant documents.
The two accused persons including driver Ali Akbar son of Muhammad Omar, a resident of district Kalat and his companion conductor Mudassar son of Mir Kalam, a resident of Quetta were arrested and after registering a case of smuggling against him started investigations.
The ASO team confiscated the drugs opium cigarette and Gutka besides impounding the coach worth Rs 2.5 million under the prevailing Customs laws.
