MULTAN: Directorate of Customs Intelligence and Investigation (I&I) seized huge quantity of betel nuts in their action.
According to details, Director I&I Asad Raza received credible information from their source that huge quantity of contraband items would be smuggled through their jurisdiction. Director Customs Intelligence alerted the Multan Unit of Customs Intelligence and directed them to enhance monitoring of suspected routes to foil any bid of smuggling in the region.
Customs Intelligence formed special team including Inspector Muhammad Javed Bhatti, Inspector Umer, Inspector Zafar Iqbal, Shakeel-ur-Rehman and others to take action against smuggled goods. Following the directions of the director, the team intercepted a suspected truck bearing registration number RM/299 near Muzaffargarh Highway which was loaded with huge quantity of betel nuts and fresh apples. Smugglers were trying to smuggle betel nuts under the garb of fresh apples to dodge Customs teams.
Field Intelligence Unit (FIU) recovered 31000 kilograms of betel nuts in their action. The origin of recovered contraband items was India and they were smuggled through Afghanistan.
During investigation of Customs Intelligence driver of the truck told them that truck was coming from Karachi and its final destination was Lahore. Truck driver presented booking receipt of said goods to Customs Intelligence staff.
Field Intelligence Unit of Dera Ghazi Khan seized the entire betel nuts and shifted the betel nuts along with truck to Customs Intelligence State Warehouse Multan.
The value of the seized betel nuts was almost Rs12 million. Customs Intelligence seized the goods under Customs Act 1969 and further investigation regarding the betel nuts was still under process.
