LAHORE: Under the dynamic leadership of Director-General Customs Intelligence and Investigation (I&I) Faiz Ahamd and supervision of Director Mohammad Haris Ansari, Customs Intelligence and Investigation showed outstanding performance during the month of October 2023.
The Anti-smuggling squads of the Directorate achieved a record 54 seizures with a total value of Rs 1,703 million. This remarkable achievement sets a new record for the highest value of seizures in a single month, surpassing the previous best of Rs1,231 million by 38.34 percent, which was made during the last financial year.
Seizures totaling Rs1,703 million, which included 1,754,000 liters of petrol, 34,000 liters of diesel, 31,640 liters of Mobil oil/fuel oil, 47 vehicles, 5,406,600 cigarette sticks, 9,724 kg of betel nuts, 1,207 kg of Indian-origin Ratna, and miscellaneous items such as electronics goods, mobile phones, skimmed milk, dry fruits, and sheesha flavor, all worth millions of rupees.
Intelligence Based Operations (IBOs) were conducted in collaboration with the police and other law enforcement agencies, including intelligence agencies.
Investigation & Prosecution (I&P) Branch lodged 37 FIRs, arrested 19 offenders.
Disrupted criminal gangs involved in the smuggling of POL (petroleum, oil, and lubricants), cigarettes, and tobacco items, initiating criminal proceedings against the accused.
It is pertinent to mention here that Customs Enforcement detected cases of duty and tax evasion at custom stations (dry ports/airports, etc.). During October 2023, Customs Enforcement delivered outstanding results:
Customs Enforcement collected duty & taxes of Rs138 million in October 2023, compared to Rs5 million in the corresponding month of the previous year, reflecting a remarkable increase of 2660%.
Registered cases involving CIF value of Rs. 338 million in October 2023, compared to Rs12 million in the corresponding month of the previous year, marking an astounding increase of 2716 percent.
In the first four months of FY-23-24, the enforcement branch collected approximately Rs. 40.5 million in revenue, an increase of 300% over the already paid amount.
Director Customs Intelligence and Investigation also lauded Ch. Rizwan Bashir Kalair, Additional Director, along with Shah Samad Hamdani, Deputy Director, ASO, and their teams, reiterating the commitment to continue the crackdown against smuggling and tax evasion with full force.
