MULTAN: Collectorate of Customs Enforcement staff revamped anti-smuggling drive to check smuggling in South Punjab.
Collector Dr. Rehmatullah Vistro along with Assistant Collector Habib-ur-Rehman, Additional Director, decided to launch the anti-smuggling campaign. During the campaign, the Anti-Smuggling Organization (ASO) of the Collectorate registered 47 seizures cases in May involving Rs354.3 million which was 15.1pc higher compared to the value of seizures in the preceding month.
The ASO wings of the Collectorate Sadiqabad and Multan seized commodities, including 29,064 kg fabric worth Rs65.8 million, 10 NCP vehicles (Mercedes Benz 2009, Audi car 2009, Toyota Crown car 2005, Land Cruiser Prado) worth Rs49.5 million, 14 carrier vehicles worth Rs57 million, 2,060 tyres worth Rs32.1 million, scrap worth Rs23 million, electronics items worth Rs15 million, smuggled cigarettes worth Rs10 million, 1,026 kg walnuts worth Rs5 million, 6,000 kg paraffin wax worth Rs6 million, 4750 kg skimmed milk worth Rs4.2 million, 2,240 kg betel nuts worth Rs3.8 million and other goods such as Iranian shopping bags, black tea, cumin seed, auto parts, garments, artificial jewellery, glue sticks worth Rs88.5 million.
The Multan Customs Collectorate Enforcement on the other hand, framed five contraventions against evasion of Rs54.9 million duty/taxes. The Investigation and Prosecution Branch arrested a smuggler who was one of the ringleaders operating a network of smuggling in the region. Efforts are underway to arrest other members of the network. The Customs Collectorate Multan Enforcement enhanced its performance in May and June as it had detected seizures worth Rs224 million in May and in June worth Rs307 million.