MULTAN: Collectorate of Customs Anti-Smuggling Organization (ASO) recovered 220,000 liters of smuggled Iranian High Speed Diesel (HSD) during successful raid on private warehouses in Muzaffargarh region.
Sources told Customs Today that Collector Ambreen Ahmad Tarar received credible information that huge quantities of smuggled High Speed Diesel dumped in private warehouse located in the Jatoi district Muzaffargarh.
Collector Ambreen Ahmad formed special team on the basis of secret information which comprised Inspector Muhammad Waqas Leghari, Inspector Asif Rafique Sindhu, Inspector Muhammad Tahir Iqbal, Muhammad Riaz Joiya, Ghulam Abbas, Muhammad Jawad Qadeer and others to take strict action against smuggled High Speed Diesel. Customs Anti-Smuggling Squad has obtained search warrant from the local magistrate to seek permission for the inspection of private warehouse located in the Jatoi region.
Customs teams raided said warehouse where huge quantity of non-Customs paid High Speed Diesel were dumped in the tankers after smuggling from Iran through Balochistan Dera Ghazi Khan routes. Smugglers have dumped almost 220,000 liters of High Speed Diesel in the four different Oil tankers fitted underground of warehouse.
Customs found that smugglers have also installed latest equipment to refill other oil tankers through storage point for the transportation of said HSD. It was also revealed that smugglers mixed White Spirit with different chemicals and supply non-customs paid High Speed Diesel in different areas of South Punjab region.
Anti-Smuggling Organization has also recovered an Hino oil tanker bearing registration number of TLB-151 (Quetta) and motor pump during their raid in the warehouse which was utilized for the transportation of smuggled High Speed Diesel.
Customs anti-smuggling squad sealed said warehouse after recovering High Speed Diesel and Oil Tanker under section 168 (I) Customs Act 1969 for contravention of the provisions of section 2(I) 16 along with section 3(I) &3 of the import and export (control) act 1950 punishable under Section 156 (I), 89 of the Customs Act 1969.The value of the seized HSD is Rs20 million during their action.
Customs teams have also arrested owner who was identified as Malik Riaz Gaddara and his brother Malik Yaqub Gaddarah during their raid. Multan Customs Investigation and Prosecution has also started legal action against accused and further investigation against them is under process.