QUETTA: Collectorate of Customs Enforcement has seized smuggled goods and vehicles worth Rs2.62 billion during different Intelligence Based Operations (IBOs) in the month of May 2024.
The customs team, led by Chief Collector Baluchistan Yaqoob Mako, Collector Quetta Tahir Qureshi, Additional Collector Yusuf Magsi, Deputy Collector Salman Malik, and Assistant Collector Saleem Khokhar using all available resources to curb smuggling in the jurisdiction.
The Collectorate seized Rs19 million worth of hashish in May 2024. The period from July 2023 to May 2024 has been particularly significant for the Customs Enforcement Quetta, with a total of 1,740 cases filed involving smuggled items worth Rs27.36 billion. Additionally, narcotics with a market value of Rs386.5 million were seized, indicating a robust response to the drug trafficking menace.
The seized goods includes non-duty paid vehicles, textiles, betel nuts, foreign currency, and liquor to fuel, cigarettes, tyres, tea, sugar, electronics, carpets, and mobile phones. This diverse collection highlights the broad spectrum of smuggling activities that the enforcement team is combatting.
In a strategic shift from previous practices, Enforcement Quetta has adopted a more aggressive stance by initiating FIRs to instill a sense of fear among smugglers. This move marks a departure from the usual reluctance to lodge formal complaints, signaling a new era of stringent enforcement measures.
Collector Appraisement Quetta Yaseen Murtaza has been vigilant in monitoring customs declarations, ensuring that mis-declaration and under-invoicing are promptly identified and addressed. His high-profile presence and strict oversight are crucial components in the overarching strategy to eradicate smuggling and related corrupt practices.
