HYDERABAD: Collectorate of Customs Enforcement conducted a raid on a mobile market in collaboration with Pakistan Rangers and Sindh Police.
The Chief Collector of Enforcement received information that non-PTA-approved mobile phones were being fraudulently converted into PTA-approved devices through manipulation of IMEI numbers.
This information was relayed by Collector Moona Mehfooz to Additional Collector Shah Faisal Shaho. Acting on this intelligence, the Collectorate of Customs Enforcement Hyderabad, in coordination with Pakistan Rangers, carried out a successful raid at the mobile market in Saddar, Hyderabad.
During the operation, 137 smuggled mobile phones, including high-end brands such as iPhones, Google Pixel, and OnePlus, were seized. The estimated value of the detained illegal phones is approximately Rs. 40 million.
These non-PTA-approved mobile phones often enter the country through illegal channels and are frequently used in criminal activities, posing significant threats to national security and the economy. In light of these concerns, a crackdown on markets dealing in such devices was deemed essential to curtail their availability and illegal trade.
The Customs authorities have reaffirmed their commitment to taking strict action against the smuggling and illegal sale of non-PTA-approved mobile phones and gadgets.
Further investigations are underway to identify the individuals involved in this illicit trade.
