KARACHI: Smuggled goods worth Rs 250 million were apprehended in a massive crackdown in Yusuf Goth area Karachi, in a joint crackdown on smuggled goods dumped in warehouses by Directorate of Customs Intelligence and Investigation and Sindh Police. No one was arrested in the crackdown till filing of this report.
Sources said on 22 November 2019 morning, the operation was initially launched by Sindh Police but later on the team of Customs Intelligence also joined them on directives of Director Customs Intelligence and Investigation (I&I) Irfan Javed. Customs Intelligence team led by Deputy Director Saad Ata Rabbani, Superintendent Sikandar Khanzada along with 20 Intelligence Officers and other staff reached the spot to take part in the ongoing crackdown on warehouses in Yusuf Goth Karachi.
Moreover, several squad vehicles of Customs Intelligence Karachi also reached there to assist Sindh Police. Director Irfan Javed remained in touch with the Additional IG of Police to properly take ahead and conclude the operation. The entire operation was conducted with close cooperation between Director Irfan Javed and Additional IG of Police Ghulam Nabi Memon.
Large quantity of non-duty paid/smuggled tyres, betel nuts, pan parag, cloth and other such items were recovered in the operation. The estimated value of the recovered goods estimated at Rs 250 million. After shifting the goods to the State Warehouse of Intelligence, further formalities will be fulfilled as per the Customs Act, 1969. Earlier, a large contingent of Police cordoned off the Yusuf Goth on Friday morning as part of a campaign against smuggling.
The warehouse owners, transporters and owners of the smuggled goods tried to disrupt the operation but Police effectively managed the situation. Sources said Yusuf Goth is believed to be a dumping ground for most of the smuggled goods pouring into the country from porous border areas of Balochistan.
The smuggled goods are usually covered with ‘bajri’ and crush or some other such items / local goods to conceal them. Smuggled goods are transported from Quetta to the rest of the country through three different routes. Such goods are moved from Vinder Katcha area to Dorjee to Mangopir and then via Northern bypass to Yusuf Goth. The second routes lead the smuggled goods to Hyderabad via Quetta.
