SIALKOT: The Customs Anti-Smuggling Organisation (ASO) Zone-I impounded a non-duty paid Toyota Hilux Surf during an action.
Reportedly ASO Zone-I incharge Assistant Collector Fahad Bashir Choudhary deputed Inspector Sheikh Ikram and his team on Grand Trunk (GT) Road to keep an eye on the smuggled vehicles.
Following the directions, the inspector along with his team comprising Sepoy Safdar, Munawar, Nazir and others established check post and checked documents of many vehicles.
During the checking, the team intercepted a vehicle, Toyota Hilux Surf and asked the driver named Rafiq to produce documents but he remained fail to do the same. The team impounded vehicle and shifted to the compound of the Sialkot Model Customs Collectorate. It is learnt the impounded vehicle is owned by a politician.
The team released driver after proper interrogation and registered a case as per customs laws. However the team will forward vehicle to laboratory for test and afterwards the case will be sent to adjudication department for legal proceeding. The department will present the vehicle for auction, if the case is decided in the favour of the ASO.
It may mention here that the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has strictly instructed to all customs collectors to take stern action against the non-duty paid vehicles in their respective regions. The FBR has also directed the officials to tighten noose around the smuggler in order to save the national revenue.
Sialkot Customs officials said that the ASO staff was performing well during the year as it busted various smuggling attempts and impounded vehicles following the directions of the FBR chairman and Sialkot Customs Collector Ahmad Reza Khan.
