KARACHI: Two senior officials of the Pakistan Customs, who had gone missing a few days ago, are now in the custody of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) allegedly for facilitating smuggling and receiving bribes from smugglers, it has emerged.
According to recent information, it has been revealed that two senior officials of the Pakistan Customs, who had been reported missing a few days ago, are now in the custody of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) due to their involvement in facilitating smuggling activities and accepting bribes from smugglers.
The FIA has arrested Customs officials Tariq Mehmood and Yawar Abbas. These officials have been detained for their alleged role in facilitating smuggling and accepting bribes from smugglers.
The FIA Anti-Corruption Circle (ACC) conducted an operation based on a tip-off, resulting in the apprehension of Tariq Mehmood and Yawar Abbas at Karachi airport as they were preparing to travel to Islamabad. The arrested officials identified themselves as Tariq Mehmood, superintendent (ASO), currently posted at Anti-Smuggling, NMB-Wharf, and Yawar Abbas, Superintendent Operation, Anti-Smuggling Directorate, Intelligence & Investigation, Customs Karachi.
During the raid, the FIA team discovered the customs officials’ vehicle parked at the airport’s parking lot. Upon searching the vehicle, they found a substantial amount of money, totaling Rs 5.4 million, US$2,406, and UAE Dirham 6,100. When questioned about the source of the money, both accused officials failed to provide a satisfactory explanation. They subsequently admitted that the funds were “speed money” collected by them from the customs check-post in Mochko, district Kemari, Karachi, with the intention of distributing it among various customs officials.
The monthly collection from all customs check-posts, including Mochko, Mach Goth, Sohrab Goth, and Ghaggar Phatak, amounts to approximately Rs40 to Rs50 million. Additionally, the monthly collection specifically related to the facilitation of smuggling betel nuts is around Rs 60 million.
During interrogations, both Tariq Mehmood and Yawar Abbas once again confessed to facilitating smugglers in transporting illicit goods from the border areas of Balochistan to Karachi through land routes. They also revealed the names of other customs officers who have been beneficiaries of bribes received from smugglers in exchange for assisting in the transportation of contraband.
Tariq Mehmood, one of the accused officials, disclosed that Imran Noorani is running the betel nut smuggling network from the border areas of Balochistan to Karachi. Imran Noorani also operates a betel nut factory located near Shafiq Technical School in the Shershah Industrial Area of Karachi. Both Yawar Abbas and Tariq Mehmood have been suspended from their positions. Further probe is on to identify and apprehend the seniors in Customs department who are the beneficiaries and protectors behind these officers.
