FAISALABAD: The Customs Anti-Smuggling Organization (ASO) Mianwali has seized smuggled animal skin worth Rs 2 million during a raid. The ASO team also impounded Mercedez ten wheeler truck worth Rs 4.5 million bearing registration no. TKY- 947 model 1982 which was being used for transportation of smuggled skins.
Sources told Customs Today that Additional Collector Muhammad Saeed Asad received information about some smuggling attempts. He formed an ASO team comprising Superintendent Chaudhary Sardar Muhammad, Inspectors Muhammad Umar Bhatti, Azhar Hussain Jafri, Muhammad Asif and Muhammad Ameen, Ziaul Hassan, Muhammad Riaz (sepoys).
The team intercepted above mentioned truck near police check post near Dajal district Bhakkar. The animal skins were being transported from Afghanistan via Wana to Kasur. The ASO team asked the suspect, who were identified as Muhammad Hussain son of Abdul Hafiz (owner), to produce legal documents regarding possession of goods. He produced a slip of bilty no. 914 issued by Abid Commission Godown but failed to show any other legal documents in this regard.
After his failure, the ASO team seized the goods and forwarded the case to customs Adjudication for further proceedings. Collector Zulfiqar Chaudhary has appreciated the performance of ASO teams which foiled various smuggled bids in the region.