FAISALABAD: The Customs Anti-Smuggling Organisation has seized smuggled black pepper, cumin seeds (zeera) and cardamom (elaichi) worth Rs 2.76 million, involving duty/taxes to the tune of Rs 341,435.
The Jhang ASO on a tip-off – received through Model Customs Collectorate Faisalabad Collector Tauseef Ahmad Qureshi – conducted a raid on Faisalabad Road, Chiniot, and seized 1,450kg black pepper, 300kg cumin seeds and 250kg cardamom worth Rs 2.76 million.
After seizing the consignment, the ASO served notice on the accused persons, including Muhammad Arif and Habibullah, of Al-Saad Goods Forwarding Agency to appear before the authorities concerned to prove the legal import of the said items. However, after passage of considerable time, no one approached the ASO to claim the ownership or legal importation of the items, on which the customs authorities confiscated the items under the prevailing customs law. However, the seizure report has been forwarded to the adjudication for further legal action.
The ASO team that took part in the raid comprised Superintendent Zahid Raza Bukhari, Inspector Asghar Mehdi Naqvi, Shaukat Khan, Mujuhid Abbas, Muhammad Ali and others.
