ISLAMABAD: Anti-Smuggling Organization (ASO) Islamabad impounded the bananas along with an offending vehicle (Vehicle used for smuggling goods) valued Rs1.00million and sold them in an auction within hours after the seizure for being a perishable item. The said goods were coming from Jammu Kashmir via Azad Jammu Kashmir.
According to Deputy Collector Ansar Anees while giving details to Customs Today, she said following a tip-off forwarded by Collector Model Customs Collectorate (MCC) Islamabad Dr. Arslan, the ASO intercepted a Mazda truck with registration No: RIN-6442 coming from Azad Jummu Kashmir (AJK) near Rawalpindi (Faizabad).
The ASO asked the possessors to show the legal documents of the goods and vehicle but he failed to so.
The ASO staff told them that they must paid duty taxes before crossing the border. As possessors were unable to provide any Goods Declaration (GD), the ASO staff confiscated the bananas and fined the offending vehicle Rs0.3million for facilitating the smuggling activities.
The ASO brought the bananas to State Warehouse and auctioned them off against Rs0.7million.
An FIR has been registered against the tax evaders and offending vehicle and a case has also been forwarded to the I&P Department for further investigation. The ASO staff, participating in the said seizure, comprised Rana Shakeel, Superintendent, Inspector Asaf Mehmood and other supporting staff of the ASO.