MULTAN: Collector Customs Adjudication issued an Order-in-Original for confiscation of 14 kilogram gold and foreign currency worth Rs64.6million.
A Multan customs authority had seized the said gold and foreign currency at the Multan International Airport. It is important to mention here that the customs staff intercepted two female passengers named Haleema Riaz and Sumaira Asif who were wearing gold bangles and anklets in traditional dresses. Both female passengers were arrested when they were going to Dubai by Flight No: FZ-340 of Fly Dubai.
Customs found during investigation that arrested female smugglers were working for a network. Both females’ husbands were also found involved in the gold smuggling.
During the proceeding, both females and an accused Rana Muhammad Riaz submitted a written reply to the show cause issued by customs adjudication through Advocate Asharib Sohail and disowned the recovered gold and foreign currency. During the hearing, Haleema Riaz and Sumaira Asif failed to submit any proper reply to the show cause as they were not interested to contest the case.
Collector Customs Adjudication Mirza Mubashir Baig concluded after hearing that an attempt was made by both lady passengers to smuggle seized gold and foreign currency with the connivance of others. Therefore Collector issued order for the seizure of gold and foreign currency under clause 8(i) of Section 156 of the Customs act-1969 with SRO 499(I)/2009.
Collector Customs has also announced a penalty of Rs100000 each.
