MULTAN: Customs Collectorate Anti-Smuggling Organization intercepted trucks loaded with huge quantity of smuggled goods of worth Rs.23.78 million under the garb of Afghan Transit Trade.
Sources told Customs Today that Collector Ambreen Ahmad Tarar received credible information from her source that huge quantity of smuggled goods entered into the jurisdiction and they will be transported in the South Punjab.
Collector Ambreen Ahmad formed special team under the supervision of Deputy Collector Saqib-ur-Rehman Warraich to thwart any attempt of smuggling. Anti-Smuggling Squad set up a picket for vigilance of coming goods after receiving said information.
Multan Customs anti-Smuggling squad intercepted three different trucks which were loaded with different goods including white cumin seed, coriander seed, almond without shell, dried plums, Rani Juices with fruit pieces, plastic granules, natural dried herb, figs, multi-vitamin syrup and others.
After the interception, the ASO staff asked the possessors to show any proof of the said goods as they they not smuggled one but they failed to do so.
During the examination of said goods, Customs found that loaded are the cargo in transit to Afghanistan. Smugglers were trying to smuggle said goods under the garb of Afghan Transit Trade.
Customs Staff detain eight persons on the spot in charge of smuggling and persons involved in act of smuggling goods bonded for Afghan transit trade are liable to criminal proceedings under relevant provisions of Law.
It is also pertinent to mention here that Afghanistan and Pakistan have trade agreement, and according to agreement goods can be transited through Pakistan without paying any Pakistani customs duties. Several Pakistani and Afghan traders import goods claiming they are headed to Afghanistan, but sell those goods in Pakistan without having paid any duties which cause huge loss to national exchequer. Further Investigations are still under way.
