LAHORE: In view of intensified anti-smuggling drive across Pakistan, Faiz Ahmed Chadhar, Director General, Customs Intelligence and Investigations (I&I) issued strict directives to crackdown on the smugglers of contraband and smuggled items. Total worth of the seized goods is estimated to be around Rs.220 million.
According to the details, Customs Intelligence and Investigation (I&I) under the supervision of Muhammad Haris Ansari, Director Intelligence & Investigation, Lahore along with his team has been methodically working on pounding smuggling dens, dumping places and networks.
After detailed intelligence surveys and appraisal by the Customs Intelligence Lahore, planning was done for a big crackdown on two challenging locations viz Shah Alam Market and Humayun Khan Plaza near Pan Mandi Railway station.
This operation was jointly planned and executed with Punjab Police. Additional Director Customs Intelligence and Investigation Ch Rizwan Bashir Kalair and DIG operations Lahore Police Ali Nasir Rizvi jointly commanded the execution of this operation, planning even the minute details. The operation was carried out in the wee hours of 08.10.2023.
It is pertinent to mention that the smugglers had made these said markets as no go areas for law-enforcement agencies. Though smugglers resorted to violence but the presence of Police force helped the team of Customs Intelligence to recover 9 Mazda trucks of contraband goods. The operations resulted in seizure of huge quantity of foreign origin non duty paid / smuggled goods as per following details:-
Cigarettes
Betel Nuts
Vapes
Sheesha Flavors
Indian Tobacco
After the seizures, FIRs have been lodged against the smugglers and owners of godowns/ dumping areas under Section 2(s) of the Customs Act, 1969. Moreover, FIR has also been registered by Police under Section PPC for disrupting public order.
Muhammad Haris Ansari, Director – Customs Intelligence monitored and guided the entire operation. The anti-smuggling teams were directly supervised by Ch. Rizwan Bashir Kalair, Additional Director and led by Shah Samad Hamadani, Deputy Director.
The anti-smuggling operation entailed active operational assistance by Mr. Ali Nasir Rizvi, DIG operations, Lahore and presence of his team in the field was vital for the success of the operation. Mr. Waqas Nazir, Punjab DIG (Ops) and Mr. Assad Ullah Malhi, AIG also coordinated in accordance with the directions of Mr. Usman Anwar, Inspector General of Punjab Police.
Mr. Faiz Ahmad Chadhar, Director General, Customs Intelligence Pakistan lauded the efforts of Lahore Directorate for putting up a remarkable show of unprecedented seizure of contraband items which further strengthened the resolve of this Directorate to keep up the pace of the anti-smuggling drive to disrupt the activities of smugglers in the region.
The team of Customs Intelligence Lahore has resolved to continue working at the same pace (i.e. 24/7) against smuggling networks and tax evaders in order to contribute their share in Pakistan Customs’ basic function of DEFENDING ECONOMIC FRONTIERS of the country.
