LAHORE: The MCC Preventive Lahore’s anti-smuggling unit instituted 336 cases of smuggled vehicles and other goods worth Rs280 million, showing an increase of 6 percent during the outgoing financial year 2013-14 against 312 case worth Rs265.85 million during FY 2012-13.
According to details, the MCC Lahore (Preventive) anti-smuggling unit seized 12 vehicles worth Rs3.2 million while seized goods worth Rs10.48 million in 10 cases during the month of June 2013-14.
The anti-smuggling unit seized vehicles and goods worth Rs34.15 million in 27 cases during the month of May 2013-14 while it seized 17 vehicles worth Rs2.24 million and goods worth amounting to Rs31 million in 10 cases during the period in question.
During April, the anti-smuggling unit confiscated vehicles and other valuables worth Rs9.83 million in 13 cases while it impounded a vehicle and seized non-customs paid goods during 12 raids.
Similarly in March, the unit seized vehicles and goods worth Rs17.19 million in 33 cases of which the unit confiscated 13 vehicles and goods in 20 cases.
In February, the anti-smuggling unit conducted 39 raids and captured vehicles and goods worth Rs16 million. The Customs officials also seized 18 vehicles worth Rs5 million and other goods worth Rs11 million during 21 raids.
The anti-smuggling unit confiscated vehicles and contraband goods worth Rs19 million in 25 case including four non-customs paid vehicle during the month of January.
Likewise, during December, the anti-smuggling forces conducted 40 raids and confiscated vehicles and goods worth Rs21 million while in November, the unit conducted 20 raids and seized vehicles and non-duty paid items worth Rs13 million.
In October, the anti-smuggling unit conducted 27 raids, impounding vehicles and non-customs paid items worth Rs19.69 million while in September 29 raids were carried out by the anti-smuggling officials during which vehicles and illegal goods articles worth Rs 27 million were captured.
Likewise, in August FY 2013-14, the anti-smuggling unit in 28 cases confiscated Rs41 million goods and vehicles while in July the Customs anti-smuggling unit seized Rs45 million goods and articles in 33 raids.
Meanwhile, sources in the department said that effective measures taken by Collector Customs Fazal Khan Yazdani to check smuggling had improved performance of the anti-smuggling unit.
The foreign made non-customs duty paid goods and articles which were seized during the outgoing FY included cloths, plastic, PVC products, auto parts, iron and steel coils, sheets, MS pipe, sexual drugs, electrical goods, toiletries products, generators, vehicles, artificial leather, skimmed milk powder, garments, cigarettes, firecrackers, rubber processing and motor oil.
The contraband goods and vehicles have been seized under section 157 of the Customs Act, 1969.
Sources, however, suggested that the anti-smuggling unit was direly needed fresh blood to rejuvenate it and build its capacity to root out smuggling.
Earlier, talking to Customs Today Chief Collector of Customs also emphasized the recruitment of young people in anti-smuggling department to eradicate the menace of smuggling.
