FAISALABAD: Customs ASO seized non duty paid cigarettes worth Rs 7 millions from Kachehry Bazar.
The Anti Smuggling Origanization (ASO) Faisalabad of the Customs Preventive impounded a huge quantity forein origin F/O Smuggled Cigarette from Kachehry Bazar worth Rs 7 millions involving customs duty and taxes to the tune of Rs 3 millions.
Sources told Customs Today on the tip-off by higher authorities, Deputy Collector Amjad Aman Laghari Customs Preventive Anti Smuggling Organization (ASO) Faisalabad constituted a team under the supervision of Superintendent Anjum Sheraz and also consisting of inspector Muhammad Waqas, Muhammad Zeeshan, Afsar Ameen head clerk, Muhammad Nadeem and other supporting staff to conduct a raid on a godown near Kachehry Bazar where smuggled contraband items were being kept.
During the search the team recovered foreign origin cigarettes outer 3558 Nos, tobacco products of Indian origin chewable tobacco 22320 Nos, 109 cartons of different brands of cigarettes as mentioned above.
The team asked the security person about the legal status of the goods but he could not prove anything legal. The team seized the said items and shifted them to the compound of the customs state warehouse Faisalabad. It was informed that the cigarettes were being transported illegally in Faisalabad market from Quetta. Meanwhile, Customs authorities said that the cigarettes were illegally brought into the country by a trader.
The sources said that the Customs authorities after registering separate case against the accused parties have initiated further investigations into the case. The sources said that the ASO team has saved millions of rupees by conducting operations against the illegal elements. Whereas further investigations are under way to search out the smugglers involved in the such crime.