KARACHI: The Directorate of Intelligence & Investigation Lahore in two different cases seized smuggled goods worth millions of rupees and arrested four persons.
According to details, a bus coming to Lahore from Peshawar was intercepted and on search foreign origin cloth, cosmetics, perfumes worth Rs2.65 million were recovered. The amount of duty taxes on these goods are calculated at Rs1.6 million. Four persons were arrested, bus was seized also and FIR was lodged accordingly.
In another incident, a warehouse in Patuki was raided and subsequently 438 bags of plastic dana valuing Rs2.0 million was recovered. The goods involve duty and taxes of Rs0.7 million. FIR has been lodged.
DG Intelligence and focal person ASO Lutfullah virk has instructed a crackdown against smuggling particularly via Quetta and Peshawar. As a part of this campaign, Director Imtiaz Ahmed, Additional Director Mohsin Rafiq, Deputy Director Saad Rabbani and Superintendent Nasir Minhas have initiated operations against the menace of smuggling.
An official said that the Directorate was extremely short of manpower to cover the entire region. The Anti-smuggling Organization (ASO) is short of staff throughout the country and their strength is far below than the required strength.
Official said that I&I Karachi and I&I Balochistan were working in a very critical environment due to the prevailing law and order situation in these regions and it is the need of hour to increase the strength of this organization and equip them with the modern equipment and facilities.