KARACHI: Directorate of Customs Intelligence & Investigation (I&I) Peshawar has detained 870 assorted mobile phones found in bags/cartons unattended at the luggage conveyor belt. The value of mobile phones and memory cards is estimated at Rs25 million.
On the directives of DG Customs I&I, Islamabad a team was constituted by Director I&I Peshawar under the supervision of Deputy Director Khial Muhamad to keep vigilance on all flights coming from UAE and scanned all the baggage of incoming passengers jointly with Customs staff of Bacha khan International Airport Peshawar.
The other day when all the passengers cleared and all accompanied baggage was checked eight pieces of baggage including cartons and plastic shoppers were left unattended on the conveyor belt of baggage. The same was taken to the scanner and on check it was found full of mobile phones. The culprits/carriers artfully removed baggage tag to avoid the chances of detection and identity. The airlines staff present aslo expressed inability to confirm the ownership of the baggage.
Resultantly, the same was detained and on checking in office of AC Customs Airport Peshawar it led to recovery of 870 branded mobiles,including Samsung, HTC, Motorola and Verizone. As many as 5500 memory cards were also recovered.
FIR against unknown culprits has been registered and investigation has been launched to unearth the net of international gangs and carriers. It is pertinent to mention that it is the largest ever seizure of I&I Peshawar on the Bacha Khan airport.