KARACHI: Directorate General Custom Intelligence & Investigation-FBR Anti-Smuggling, Karachi during the first six months of financial year 2015-16, (July to December), has seized huge quantity of various smuggled items valuing Rs1.17 billion.
According to details, the Anti-Smuggling operation was conducted by various teams of Customs Intelligence different localities in Karachi, Hyderabad and Sukkur. Items taken into custody include huge quantity of Electronics goods, Tyres, Plastic granules, Diesel, Cloth, Tea, Cigarettes, injurious Gutkha and number of Vehicles including 27 Prime Movers. During the operation 2100 Tyres, 151000 kgs Plastic granules and 240000 litters Diesel & Petrol was recovered in addition to 70 Vehicle, Trucks and Prime Movers. 15 persons involved in smuggling were also arrested and challan were submitted in the Customs Court.
Seizure reports of the cases have also been sent to concerned adjudication authorities. In response to query Director Customs Intelligence Muhammad Asif Marghoob Siddiqui confirmed the seizures and informed that the Anti Smuggling Operation was conducted in line with the Anti-Smuggling strategy of FBR and also as instructed by Director General Imtiaz Ahmad Khan.
He further told that a number of godowns located in Industrial and Residential Area were also raided observing the formalities as required under the law. Huge quantity of smuggled Diesel illegally stored in the underground Tanks was recovered during these raids.
Besides, large number of deep-freezers, Fridge, Television Sets, brought in to be country without payment of duties & taxes were also seized during the raids. An amount of Rs84 million was deposited in the national exchequer during this period through auction and payment of duty and taxes on the order of Adjudicating Authorities.
He further told that the Anti-smuggling operations were conducted under the guidance of Additional Director Nadeem Ahsan and supervised by Assistant Director Kaleemullah, Superintendents Syed Mehmood Abbas, Najibullah Jafri and other Officers. Director resolved to further improve the Anti-Smuggling Operation in order to save the resultant loss to national exchequer.