FAISALABAD: The Directorate of Customs Intelligence and Investigation and Anti-Smuggling Organisation (ASO) impounded a trailer laden with 98,230 kilogram of smuggled iron scrap worth Rs 16.012 million involving duty taxes amounting to Rs 5.236 million.
Following information about a smuggling attempt, the Customs Intelligence and ASO conducted a joint operation and intercepted a trailer bearing Registration No TLB-926 near Toba Tek Singh Bypass for checking.
The officials while checking the vehicle recovered 80,500kg iron pipes seamless, 5,000kg iron angles, 4,020kg iron wire, 8,210kg used iron rods and 500kg iron screw rods.
The officials asked the driver namely as Najeeb Ullah son of Abdullah Jan to show documents regarding the legal import of the items on which he produced a cargo Receipt No. 039 showing Consignor as Behram Khan and Consignee as Chota Kashif Kanta, Lahore. The driver also presented a GD No. 14874 showing clearance of 80,200kg iron mix scrap for re-rolling from Taftan Custom House.
The officials after finding difference regarding actual weight and description impounded the trailer along with scrap under the prevailing customs laws, besides arresting the accused driver.
Customs Intelligence Additional Director Azmat Tahira said that a trailer laden with scrap has been impounded under Section 17 of the Customs Act, 1969.
The additional director said that intelligence teams have been given special tasks to impound the non-customs paid vehicles causing loss of millions of rupees to national exchequer.
