KARACHI: Directorate General of Intelligence & Investigation – FBR spearheading the mega anti-smuggling drive seized goods worth Rs5.6 billion during the year ended June 30, 2016, which is 42 percent higher than the seizures of goods worth Rs3.99 billion made in the year ended June 30, 2015.
In pursuance or the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) policy of zero tolerance to all sort of smuggling activities and to curb this menace through a robust, effective and coordinated anti-smuggling strategy, the Directorate General, Intelligence and Investigation-FBR led by Imtiaz Ahmed Khan spearheaded the anti-smuggling drive with commitment and dedication in the last financial year, which resulted in unprecedented seizures both in terms of quantities and values of goods.
Additional Director HQ Abdul Waheed Khan Marwat said the anti-smuggling special campaign is focused on assigning specific anti-smuggling responsibilities to specific staff, identification of significant smuggling prone areas and choke points, effective utilization of mobile squads, better coordination with other law enforcement agencies and effective monitoring of the entire exercise.
Marwat said the well coordinated and well manages operations have resulted in significant seizures of smuggled commodities including narcotics. Major items seized during the current anti-smuggling drive include vehicles, fabrics, LEDs, Cigarettes, Tyres, Black tea and miscellaneous electronic items in the financial year.
He said Director General Imtiaz Ahmed Khan constituted special teams headed by competent officers to control smuggling of non-duty paid vehicles and cigarette. During FY2015-16, 559 vehicles amounting Rs890 million have been seized, while during the FY 2014-15, 323 vehicles worth Rs355 million were seized, showing 73 percent surge in the number of vehicles.
Non duty-paid smuggled Cigarettes remained another area of focus and a total of 3.2 million slicks of smuggled cigarettes amounting Rs137.410 million were seized during FY2015-l6.
Directorate General also launched special campaign regarding auction of warehoused goods ripe for disposal. Special monitoring was put in place and instructions were issued to the Regional Directorates to carry out at least three auctions per month to realize optimum revenue.
These efforts yielded tangible results and the Directorate General has contributed more than one billion Rupees in the national exchequer through auction of confiscated goods, Abdul Waheed Khan Marwat informed Customnews.pk.