QUETTA: Under the supervision of Collector Umar Shafique, Collectorate of Customs Enforcement Collector Umar Shafique has started crackdown against smugglers.
During the on-going drive against smuggling three FIRs were registered against Aqib Ali, owner of Fortune Enterprises, M/s SJ Enterprises, and an Inspector of Customs Enforcement Quetta. They are accused of the illegal removal of vehicles from the NLC Terminal Taftan, which were carrying cashew nuts and almond without shells.
Acting on information received from Collector Umar Shafique about smuggling attempts. The staff of FEU Nokundi and Dalbandin successfully intercepted the vehicles.
Upon questioning, the drivers revealed that Asif (Munshi), acting on behalf of the clearing agent, provided them with fake documents (forged GD) and directed them to transport the cargo to Quetta. The importer and clearing agent for the goods is M/s Fortune Enterprises, Lahore. Verification of the gate-pass issued at the NLC Terminal Taftan revealed it was issued by the gate staff, with no other legal import documents presented on the spot.
Investigation detect that Inspector Malik Zain who was performing his duties at the Taftan Gates, was responsible for allowing the vehicles to pass with irrelevant GDs. Records obtained from PRAL indicated the involvement of the inspector, who also entered the information into the WeBOC system. The gate-out staff of the NLC terminal operator also issued gate-passes for the vehicles, corroborating their involvement with Mr. Malik Zain and other accused.
The roles of all persons involved in the smuggling operation, including the claimants of the seized items, handlers, facilitators, financiers, beneficiaries, and the owner of the seized goods, are under investigation.
