FAISALABAD: The Directorate of Customs Intelligence and Investigation Faisalabad foiled miscellaneous smuggling attempts in region worth Rs 142.202 million, involving duty and taxes of Rs 71.77 millions during month of September.
During initial days of September, Director Customs Intelligence and Investigation Muhammad Adnan Akram received credible information that some smugglers are trying to smuggle miscellaneous goods into different cities of Pakistan.
Following information regarding the smuggled goods storage in the city, Customs Intelligence deputy director Rana Irfan Shoukat formed a team comprising Superintendent Muhammad Tahir Iqbal. The team constituted under the supervision of Intelligence Officer Mansoor Nasir to conduct checking point at main entry point of the city under the anti smuggling campaign.
The said intelligence officer along with his team members including intelligence officer Muhammad Ramzan, Muhammad Saleem, Naseer Ahmed, constables Liaqat Ali, Israr Ahmed, Zeeshan Mukhtar, Shouqat Hayat, Havaldar Muhammad Iqbal and UDC Muhammad Sikandar established check post in order to bust the smuggling attempts.
During the checking, the customs team recovered foreign origin dry coconut 19688 kgs, f/o auto parts, f/o cloth 491 kgs, f/o coriander seeds 2730 kgs, f/o zeera 6780 kgs, dried chick peas Irani 640 kgs, f/o kishmish 1500 kgs, f/o shelled almond hard and soft 3320 kgs, f/o dried apricot 4960 kgs, f/o dry coconut 3220 kgs, almond American 2068 kgs, cashew Indian 40 kgs, f/o cloves 2450 kgs, f/o cloth 680 kgs, f/o nylon rope of Iran origin packed in HDPE white bags 18.725 tons and other miscellaneous goods.
The officials asked driver of the vehicle to show documents regarding the legal import of the items but he could not produce the same. Therefore the recovered items along with truck were impounded under the customs laws. During the raid the officials registered almost 10 cases against the accused persons.
Deputy Director Rana Irfan Shoukat added that the customs officials were working round the clock to capture the non duty paid goods and vehicle being smuggled into or via Faisalabad jurisdiction. The menace of smuggling was not only affecting the national economy of the country negatively but also disturbing local businesses.
Source said Director Customs Intelligence and Investigations Faisalabad Rana Irfan Shoukat is holding a daily meeting with the team members and giving instructions to arrest the smuggling. Source said Irfan Shoukat appreciated the anti smuggling team on the said performance.