KARACHI: Regional Directorate of Customs Intelligence and Investigation (I&I) seized huge quantity of smuggled petroleum, oil, and lubricants (POL) products during intelligence-based operation (IBO).
Sources said that Director I&I Karachi Mian Masood received credible information that huge quantity of petroleum products are dumped in a godown adjacent to N3 Pump, Khalid Bin Waleed Road, SITE, Super Highway, Karachi.
The director constituted an anti-smuggling squad under the supervision of Deputy Director Aadarsh Jawahery and included Superintendents Zia Moen and Muhammad Abid.
Upon arrival at the location, the team found the premises deserted. Given the risk of the smuggled goods being moved during the process of obtaining a search warrant, a notice under Section 163 of the Customs Act, 1969, was posted on the main entrance.
After completing legal formalities, the team entered the godown and discovered a large quantity of foreign-origin smuggled POL products, including High Speed Diesel (HSD) and Petrol loaded on two oil tankers, and Adulterated MEPD stored in an extra tank.
No individuals came forward to claim ownership or provide legal import documents for the smuggled goods. As a result, all the recovered POL products and the oil tankers were seized under the provisions of the Customs Act, 1969, and transported to the Directorate’s office for further examination. The seized goods included 10,000 liters of HSD, 1,500 liters of Petrol, and 11,000 liters of Adulterated MEPD.
Samples of the recovered products were taken for chemical analysis in the presence of witnesses. Notices under Section 171 of the Customs Act, 1969, have been issued against the unknown persons/owners, and the case has been registered accordingly.
The probe has revealed that the owners and beneficiaries of the seized goods were deliberately involved in the smuggling operation, violating multiple provisions of the Customs Act, 1969.
An FIR has been registered and further investigation underway.
