MULTAN: Anti-Smuggling Organization was re-organized after assuming the charge of Multan Customs Collectorate and more anti-smuggling squads were deployed strategically in the jurisdiction to foil different attempts of smuggling. Special attention was given on revamping of Anti-Smuggling Organization (ASO) to curb the menace of smuggling. After these steps, Multan Customs showed exceptional performance by seizing a huge quantity of vehicles and goods worth Rs1017.545 million during various anti-smuggling actions from January to December 2018.
These views were expressed by Collector Ambreen Ahmad Tarar during an exclusive interview with Customs Today on the performance of the Anti-Smuggling Organization. Collector Ambreen Ahmad Tarar said that massive anti-smuggling campaign enhanced revenue collection of the Collectorate as it surpassed annual fiscal targets of the outgoing fiscal year 2017-18. The effective anti-smuggling campaign launched against the smuggled goods and non-duty paid items significantly reflected in the revenue collection in which the Collectorate of Multan Customs made a record and set an example for other collectorates.
She expressed that Multan Customs is the major revenue generating Collectorate of the Central Region and the Collectorate has its significant importance for the business community of South Punjab due to its geographical location. She added that Multan Customs Dry Port is the only import clearance station in South Punjab for importers. Multan Customs has promoted legal imports and legitimate trade through their intensive anti-smuggling campaigns in the region.
Ambreen Ahmad said that performance of ASO has improved by 300 percent as the Anti-Smuggling Organization has seized massive smuggled goods and non-duty paid vehicles worth Rs1017.545 million from January 2018 up to 20th December 2018. On the other hand, the Collectorate has made 139 seizure cases worth Rs 403.392 million of non-duty paid vehicles and miscellaneous goods during the corresponding period of FY 2017-18. Whereas, MCC Multan was able to frame 161 various seizure cases by seizing goods and miscellaneous articles worth Rs 222.97 million during the corresponding period of FY 2016-17.
Multan Customs impounded almost 167 non-customs paid vehicles of various expansive brands and made-ups of Rs 300.7 million for the duration of January to 20th December 2018. These seized vehicles included Toyota Land Cruiser, Toyota Hilux Surf, Toyota Corolla, Camry, Honda Civic, Toyota Altis and others.
On the other hand, Anti-Smuggling Organization Multan seized 115 vehicles of Rs212.8 million during the same period in 2017. Multan Customs successfully seized huge quantity of High Speed Diesel, POL products, Art silk cloth, dry fruits, milk powder, tyres, Gutka, cigarettes, blankets, ceramic tiles and other goods worth Rs716.845 million during the said period.
Multan Customs Anti-Smuggling Organization lodged 24 different criminal FIRs against smugglers and arrested several offenders by adopting zero-tolerance policy. Due to rigorous strategy against smuggled goods, Multan Customs produced fruitful results to curb the menace of smuggling from the region. Multan Customs has outperformed all the other Collectorates and directorates of intelligence in the Central Region as it made maximum cases in terms of number, value and arrest during the said period due to aggressive approach against smuggling.
She said that Anti-Smuggling Organization has identified few clandestine routes in the territory which are adopted by the smugglers for smuggling of goods and vehicles. Monitoring of suspected routes has been enhanced in the jurisdiction to restrain smuggling under the new strategy.
Customs has initiated special vigilance of the specific areas in order to curtail smuggling in the territory and Anti-Smuggling Squad has focused on Dera Ghazi Khan Taunsa region especially which was being used in cross-border smuggling from Baluchistan Punjab.
Collectorate of Customs Multan has enhanced cooperation with other law enforcement agencies including Motorway Police, Balochistan Military Police (BMP), Customs Intelligence and others to curb smuggling in the jurisdiction.
The Collectorate has an honest and dedicated team of officers and staff that always focused on uprightness, productivity and discipline which yielded positive results.