MULTAN: The Customs Collectorate Multan has foiled an attempt to smuggle a huge quantity of gold and foreign currency worth Rs 64 million at Multan International Airport.
Collector Sarfraz Ahmad Warraich along with Additional Collector Ghulam Mustafa, Deputy Collector Abdul Mueed Kanjoo, Assistant Collector Faizan Badar and others addressed a press conference in Multan Customs House.
Collector Sarfraz Ahmad Warraich told reporters that the Customs staff intercepted two female passengers who were wearing gold bangles and anklets in traditional dresses. Both passengers were going to Dubai by flight no FZ-340 of Flydubai.
The staff found two female passengers, identified as Haleema Riaz wife of Muhammad Riaz, a resident of Lahore, and Sumaira Asif Siddiqui, wife of Asif Siddiqui, a resident of Pak Gate Multan, having unusual behavior. The Customs have taken out comprehensive examination of their luggage of said passengers along with others in order to prevent smuggling.
The Customs staff found these passengers were wearing heavy jewellery in their arms gold bangles and anklets covered by their traditional dresses. Customs took wear off gold bangles and anklets from passengers and took into custody.
Moreover, Collector Sarfraz Ahmad Warraich told that passengers had crossed the currency declaring counter established by customs department without voluntary declaration and later they were intercepted at the customs examination counter for complete examination when they passed ASF checking, scanning and screening counters.
He said that they were repeatedly asked to declare whether they were carrying any contraband goods like gold, currency, etc prior to examination of their baggage but both of them replied in negative.
Collector Sarfraz Ahmad Warraich said that the Customs staffs have caught gold and foreign currency on routine checking and they have not received any information regarding the smuggling of gold and currency. Both passengers were trying to deceive Customs by carrying out currency and huge quantity of gold to United Arab Emirates from Multan illegally. Both were arrested whereas currency and gold were seized.
Customs team recovered 42 gold bangles and anklets of 14 kilograms from passenger and foreign currency of 37000 Saudi riyal and 1000 AED during their checking at the Multan International Airport. The ages of both females were around 40 to 50 years.
Customs have started investigation about the link between both female passengers which were making smuggling attempt at the Multan International Airport and they were working as gang at the time of smuggling because both of them are familiar with each other. Collector expressed that these two arrested women’s may work for any network which involved in the gold smuggling in the country.
During the initial interrogation of Customs, it was revealed that Sumaira Asif’s husband is related to gold business and he has jeweler shop in the Multan gold market. Further Investigation were still under process.
Collector have appreciated the achievement of Customs staff deputed at the Multan International Airport which have foiled smuggling attempt due to their wakefulness and full attention.
The Customs Collectorate Multan has foiled a major attempt of smuggling of worth Rs 64 million gold in their coordinated effort of Airport Security Force and Customs staff.
