ISLAMABAD: A sub-committee of the Senate Standing Committee on Interior, chaired by Saifullah Abro, has taken up the alleged theft of 2,828 cartons of confiscated cigarettes valued at Rs250 million from warehouses of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR). The development has raised serious concerns regarding storage security, monitoring systems, and internal oversight of seized goods.
FBR officials informed the panel that six trucks carrying 1,262 cartons of cigarettes were seized in Swabi on January 14, 2024. However, lawmakers questioned the decision to shift the confiscated goods to two separate warehouses.
Responding to queries from Talha Mahmood, officials stated the transfer was due to space constraints, with four trucks moved to one warehouse and two to another. Committee members expressed concern that the goods were relocated from a monitored facility to a warehouse lacking CCTV surveillance.
Authorities revealed that the missing cartons were discovered on May 7, 2025, while an FIR was registered on May 21, 2025, at Swabi Police Station before the case was handed over to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).
In response to questions from Umar Farooq, FBR officials confirmed that no other seized items had been reported missing. The committee was informed that three FBR officers were dismissed and eight others transferred following the incident, though none of the dismissed officials are currently in custody.
The panel further noted that an additional 20 cartons were reportedly stolen in January 2026, despite new standard operating procedures (SOPs) introduced after the initial theft. Officials identified the seized cigarettes as belonging to the “Paramount Kisan” brand.
The committee was also briefed that a High Court had ordered a fresh inquiry into the case. While the seized trucks were released after fines were imposed, the cigarettes remained in official custody.
Calling the matter serious, the committee directed the FBR to submit within two days comprehensive details of the case, records of officers involved, and a 10-year enforcement history of Customs and FBR actions related to confiscated goods.
