Mega Rs 85m ‘smuggled’ tyres, rims detained from a godown in Bilal Gunj
LAHORE: Customs Lahore Preventive has categorically said that Rs 85 million tyres and rims detained from a godown at Billa Gung will be returned only when the accused party produces proofs of customs clearance.
According to a Customs spokesman the Customs Lahore Preventive ASO seized above Rs 85 million and denied the impression that the detained tyres and rims will be released without documents of customs clearance.
According to customs authorities alleged contraband non customs paid goods worth Rs.85 million were seized on a secret information by Collector Customs Mukarram Jah Ansari.
The collector constituted a team of Anti-Smuggling Organisation under the supervision of Muhammad Adnan Khan Assistant Collector Mumtaz Ajmal Mian Superintendent and others.
The team consisting Saleem Akhtar, Mazhar Abbas Butter, Ejaz Rasool Shah Deputy Superintendent and Khalid Butt, Irfan Mumtaz, Arif Mayo, Sajjad Bukhari, Amjad Khan, Hameed Bhatti, Shahid Khan Inspectors and other Custom staff successfully raided and recovered slightly used smuggled tyres of assorted size, brands 12000-nos and 300-alloy rims from a godown at Bilal Gunj owned by Nomi and Azeem. Clearance and forwarding value of recovered goods is Rs.60 million whereas market value is Rs.85 million.
Following the detention of the Rs 85 million tyres and rims hundreds of traders protested against the customs authorities. The traders rallied from Bilal Gunj to Punjab Assembly and staged demonstration. The traders demanded of the customs authorities to serve notice before hand to conduct a raid.
On this occasion, Provincial Minister for Food Bilal Yasin held deliberations with the traders to deescalate the situation and it was decided that the traders would produce the original documents of customs clearance to release their goods and articles.
