MULTAN: Directorate of Customs Intelligence and Investigation (I&I) seized huge quantity of smuggled fresh apples from Taunsa region in their action.
Sources told Customs Today that Director Customs Intelligence and Investigation Multan Usman Bajwa received credible information that huge quantity of foreign origin fresh apples will be smuggled. Director Customs Intelligence alerted Dera Ghazi Khan 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 Syed Mohsin Raza, Inspector Qaswar, Shakeel-ur-Rehman and others to thwart any attempt of smuggling. Following the directions of Director Customs Intelligence and Investigation, the team intercepted four suspected truck from Taunsa region which were loaded with huge quantity of fresh apples. Smugglers were trying to smuggle foreign origin fresh apples to dodge Customs teams.
Field Intelligence Unit of Dera Ghazi Khan recovered almost 16000 crates of fresh apples in their action. The origin of recovered fresh apples was Iran origin and they were smuggled through Baluchistan Punjab border.
During investigation of Customs Intelligence driver of the truck told them that truck was coming from Quetta and its final destination was Multan. Truck driver presented booking receipt of said apples to Customs Intelligence staff. Customs Intelligence unit of Dera Ghazi Khan seized the entire stock of Apples and shifted the apples along with truck to Customs Intelligence State Warehouse Multan.
The net quantity of seized apples was almost 45000 Kilogram. The value of the seized fresh apples was almost Rs5 million. Customs Intelligence seized the goods under Customs act 1969 and further investigations regarding the smuggled apples were still under process. Said Apples will be auctioned within two days because they are perishable items.
