Deputy director says Customs Intelligence seized smuggled items and vehicles worth Rs 4.18 billion in 9 months
ISLAMABAD: Recommendations are being reviewed to put forward seeking equal authorities for the Customs Intelligence and Investigation like other law enforcement departments of country for undertaking effective and comprehensive action against the smuggling.
Customs Intelligence Headquarters Deputy Director Khaldun ul Haq raised curtains while giving an interview to Customs Today, adding that the federal government would be suggested to make legislations in upcoming budget to declare the Customs Intelligence a proper force. Having authorities equal to law enforcement departments will remove hurdles hampering anti-smuggling activities.
“We are working more than available resources and also striving to improve the performance with limited resources,” he said, adding that the director general remained in contact with the staff that proved a performance-booster for officials.
Despite facing shortage of staff the directorate showed exceptional performance during first nine months (July-March) of current fiscal year 2015-16, as 1023 smuggling cases were made, besides arresting the 65 suspects, he said. The Customs Intelligence seized non-duty paid goods, including cigarettes, diesel, petrol, cloth, electronics, medicines auto spare parts, blankets, liquor bottles and other miscellaneous items worth Rs 4.18 billion during the said period.
The deputy director added that a number of drug smuggling attempts were also failed during which 4,602 kilogram charas, 6kg heroin and 19kg opium worth millions of rupees in international market were confiscated.
The shortage of staff will be overcome until June, 2016 and new induction will ultimately impose a positive impact on the performance, he said. The new sepoys will be trained by police and army, and they will also be sent for refresher courses overtime.
As many as 110 seats of sepoys are vacant at Islamabad Customs Intelligence and as a whole more than 300 seats are vacant in the directorate, he said adding that NTS test has been conducted for more of the vacancies and the process will be completed before the end of current fiscal year.
The Customs Intelligence solely conducted all operations against smuggling and illegal trade, besides nabbing the culprits, he said, adding that the assistance of police was sought only to shift the arrested persons to jail.
The director general has issued clear directions to take action instantly against the smuggling whenever information was received and to not switch off the cell phones so department could contact them in any emergency. The performance of the department improved than as compare to last year with the encouragement of the director general, he added.
For early hearing of the cases pending in the courts, strategies were being made, he said, adding that law office has been directed in this regard. “We are also trying to implement the decisions announced by the courts in the cases as early as possible,” he said.
