SIALKOT: The Customs Anti-Smuggling Organisation (ASO) Zone-II has foiled a bid to smuggling 13.5 kilogram of opium during an action and arrested the accused person.
Reportedly, Sialkot Customs Collector Ahmad Reza received information that a courier company would smuggle opium through Sialkot International Airport Limited (Sial) on which he assigned task to ASO Zone-II Deputy Collector Waheed Abro to foil the bid at airport.
The deputy collector constituted a team under the supervision of Superintendent Muhammad Naeem Khan, consisting of Inspectors Muhammad Mansha, Amir Naeem, Muhammd Shafique Constables Rehamad, Safdar and Munawar. The team intercepted a van of a courier company namely as Mehran Courier Company and searched van which led to the recovery of 13.5 kilogram of opium packed in 11 cartons.
The van was intercepted near River Chenab Bridge, Wazirabad. The van was coming from Rawalpindi to Sialkot International Airport Limited (SIAL).The team confiscated the opium and arrested driver Pervez Ahmed resident of Mandi Bahauddin, besides impounding the offending vehicle. The officials also registered a law against him as per customs law.
The team presented driver before the court of judicial magistrate for remand. The magistrate granted judicial remand and sent accused to jail. A team of customs officials has been formed to conduct raid in Rawalpindi in order to arrest the owner of the courier company and other accomplice.
When contacted ASO incharge Deputy Collector Waheed Anwar Abro, he told Customs Today that the customs department has vowed to curb smuggling and all officers and officials of ASO were working day and night to curb smuggling.
Meanwhile, ASO Zone-I incharge Assistant Collector Fahad Bashir Chaudhary said that dividing the jurisdiction into different zones will be helpful for curbing smuggling. He added that he customs department has tightened noose around the smugglers and smuggling in order to weed out the menace of smuggling.
