LAHORE: Model Customs Collectorate Preventive Lahore Anti-Smuggling Organization (ASO) has seized 620 bottles of wine of various brands illegally imported from a private bar in Lahore.
According to official sources, Customs Preventive Lahore Collector Mukkaram Jah received information that a large quantity of foreign brewed wine has been stored illegally at a private bar located in Defense Housing Authority Lahore Cantt.
Sources said that on the instructions of collector ASO team under supervision of Deputy Collector Shafiqur Rehman, Superintendent Mumtaz Ajmal Mian raided the bar with warrants under customs Act 1969.
Other officials including Salim Akhtar, Mansoor Maan, Shahid Bhatti, Khalid Nazir, Usman Alvi, Abdul Ghfar, Manzoor Bajwa, Arif Mayo, Khalid Butt, Muhammad Tariq and Arif Mayo were also part of the raiding team.
The ASO team conducted successful operation and seized 620 units of foreign origin high quality wine, arresting three accused including Butta, Amir Malik and Javaid Justin.
The customs authorities have taken the custody of the smuggled wine valued at Rs 1 million, while I&P has attained one day remand of the accused persons from special judge customs Lahore.
Collector of Customs Mukarram Jah Ansari while talking to Customs Today said that the department has launched an aggressive campaign against the smugglers and the recent seizure is a clear-cut message to the smugglers that the authorities are vigilant and the illegal trade will not be tolerated any ways.
He added that Customs Lahore preventive was conducting raids following being fully sure short and confirmation of the information.
He added that the raids are being conducted on the instructions of Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Chairman Tariq Bajwa who vowed to go every inch to support the Customs Department against the smugglers.
On the other hand, source said that in posh areas of the city including Defense and Gullberg millions of rupees illegally imported wine was being used at the illegal bars set-up in private residences.
They added that it is need of the hour to start crackdown against the illegal set-up bars at the private residences in posh areas especially in Defense and Gulberg to save the fabric of the society.
