KARACHI: Collectorate of Customs Enforcement has thwarted an attempt to smuggle huge quantity of smuggled cigarettes, gutka, betel nut, Chinese salt and Cutch from a passenger bus coming from Quetta to Karachi. The value of the impouned goods and bus is Rs56.16 million.
Sources told Customs Today that information was passed through Chief Collector Yaqoob Mako to Collector Enforcement Karachi Usman Bajwa regarding smuggling of goods from Quetta to Karachi.
Deputy Collector Amjad Rajpar constituted a team, which intercepted a bus of M/s. Baacha Khan Imran Khan near Docks Police Station, Kharadar, Karachi.
The driver later identified as Niamat Ullah son of Abdul Raul. Detailed search of the bus was conducted. During this exercise, specially engineered cavities were found concealed with the foreign origin goods. It is established rat the intercepted bus was purposefully manufactured with special hidden cavities to conceal and transport smuggled goods. These goods were to be delivered at Yousuf Goth terminal.
Meanwhile, some unidentified person arrived on the scene and created law and order situation by hindering the Customs team, one of the Custom Officer members namely Shahbaz Ahmed was injured.
An official said the passenger bus and smuggled goods belonged to notorious smuggler Daad Muhammad, who also owns Al Mehmood Coach bus service.
The unscrupulous elements also blocked Hub River road. Official said whenever action is taken against these smugglers, they resort to blackmailing government through road blocks and other law & order situation. These smugglers keep scores of persons for the same purpose.
An FIR is registered and investigation is still underway till the filing of this report.
