ISLAMABAD: On the special instructions of Tariq Pasha, Chairman of Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), the Anti-Smuggling Organization (ASO) Islamabad impounded foreign origin cigarettes and an offending vehicle (Vehicle carrying smuggling goods) worth Rs1.724million.
According to details given by Deputy Collector ASO Ansir Anees while talking with Customs Today that Chairman FBR asked the MCC Islamabad for a crackdown on smugglers of foreign origin cigarettes so that the local industry can flourish.
The Customs staff of the Model Customs Collectorate Islamabad intercepted a truck with registration No: C-3946 loaded with foreign origin cigarettes which was en route from Rawalpindi to Swat.
A thorough search of the above said vehicle led to the recovery of 10,000 UK made Benson & Hedges cigarettes, 15,600 Swiss made Marlboro (Gold) cigarettes and 400 Swiss made Miland King’s cigarettes. The ASO Islamabad also seized 2,000 Swiss made brand of Raison black cat cigarettes, 2,000 Swiss made Napoli cigarettes, 20,000 UK made Dunhill cigarettes and 10,000 Spain made Milano cigarettes.
Possessor of the foreign origin cigarettes failed to produce any legal documentary proof of the cigarettes and the truck, so the ASO impounded the offending vehicle loaded with the seized items and brought them to the state ware house for further investigation.
