KARACHI: Anti-smuggling organization (ASO) of MCC Preventive Lahore has seized smuggled goods worth Rs67 million.

According to details, ASO seized 85 cartons of foreign origin smuggled cigarettes of various brands along with foreign origin bicycle parts worth Rs5.0 million. The goods were being smuggled from Peshawar to Lahore and were being unloaded in a goods transport agency near Railway Station, Lahore.

Moreover, ASO Lahore acting on specific information recovered huge quantity of skimmed milk powder of assorted brands and origins weighing 233.76 MT from the premises of M/s Saleem Rice Mills, Muridke. The recovered skimmed milk includes brands of US, Ukraine, Poland, Turkey and Indian origins.

The examination of goods further led to the discovery that most of the bags were stamped ‘Cargo in Transit to Afghanistan’, which indicates that the recovered bags of milk were originally imported for consumption in Afghanistan under Pak-Afghan Transit Trade and were smuggled back into the country.

It was found the owner of these goods were involved in repacking the goods after getting the bags locally printed in the name of ‘Dairy America’. Loose locally printed bags have also been recovered.

The value of the seized goods is Rs61.3 million involving duty and taxes of Rs43 million. A case has been registered and investigations are under way.