HYDERABAD: The Anti-Smuggling Organization (ASO), Sukkur division, has confiscated foreign origin non-duty-paid 25 smuggling bags, each containing 50 packets of 100 pouch of total sachets of Gutka made in India valued at Rs1.3million involving duties and taxes of Rs653125, during an action at a check-post of Jacobabad-Sukkur in the last week of September 2017-18.
Collector Model Customs Collectorate (MCC) Hyderabad Akhlaq Ahmed Khattaq directed his staff to abort the smuggling attempts in the region. The customs authorities received a tip-off regarding the smuggling of said foreign origin non-duty-paid items, also including auto parts. He formed a team, comprising ASO Customs Preventive Sukkur In-Charge Customs Check-Post Jacobabad Aziz Katpar and other inspectors, sepoys and a driver, which participated in the execution of the operation.
The ASO team intercepted a transport vehicle near customs check-post Sukkur and recovered abovementioned 25 bags of Gutkas and auto-parts. The market value of the items is Rs2million including duties and taxes.
Prior to the recovery of goods, the officials asked the driver for producing documents regarding the legal import of the items but he could not prove anything lawful. So the team impounded the items under the customs bylaws.
A case was registered against the accused and sent to the customs adjudication for further legal action. The ASO deposited the seized goods into Sukkur-Larkana division State Warehouse.
Officials said that Hyderabad Customs Collector Akhlaq Ahmad Khattaq had directed that effective steps be taken for arresting the smuggling in the region. They added that the anti-smuggling officials have enhanced the vigilance on roads to keep an eye on the movement of the contraband items and NDP vehicles.
