KARACHI: Collectorate of Customs Enforcement has thwarted attempts to smuggle huge quantity of foreign liquor and High Speed Diesel (HSD) worth Rs163.84 million in separate operations.
According to the details, Collector Basit Maqsood Abbasi received credible information about smuggling of foreign origin liquor. He directed Deputy Collector Syed Muhammad Raza Naqvi and Assistant Collector Shahzad Ali to use all available resources to foil the attempt. The ASO squad intercepted a Dumper carrying smuggled liquor from Karachi to upcountry.
The ASO staff deputed at Customs Super Highway Choke Point stopped the Dumper (Reg. No. TAP-251) on the night of February 27-28, near DHA City on Super Highway. The driver of the vehicle escaped in the dark. Upon examination, the ASO team recovered 3,036 bottles of high-end foreign liquor of various brands. An FIR has been registered against the culprits.
In another operation, the ASO team seized two LPG Bowsers (TMN-075 & TLR-392) and one tanker (TLK-571) containing smuggled HSD in the guise of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) during the last three days. The smuggled HSD was being transported from Balochistan to Karachi.
The total market value of the seized goods is estimated at Rs163.84 million. The goods have been seized under Section 168 of the Customs Act, 1969, and notices have been issued under Section 171 of the same act.
The Collector Basit Maqsood Abbasi, hailed the performance of the ASO team and instructed them to further intensify the anti-smuggling drive.
Meanwhile, an official of the Collectorate suggested that instead of destroying the seized liquor, it should be exported back or sold to diplomatic missions to generate some revenue for the government. However, no official decision has been taken on this matter yet.
