KARACHI: Customs Intelligence and Investigation has seized high tariff smuggled mobile phones and electric goods worth Rs166 million, which were being removed from a bonded container after breaking the seals.

Addressing a press conference, Superintendent Saif Hashmi, Senior Intelligence Officer Akmal Hashmi, Intelligence Officers Munawar Ali and Yawar Abbas informed that an FIR had been lodged against M/s K.K Metal Industries, Customs bonded carrier Saif-ur-Rehman & Brothers and others for misusing transshipment facility and clandestine removal of high tariff goods from a bonded container and replacing the same with low value and low tariff goods.

Akmal Hashmi said as many as 174 consignments were being investigated, which are known to be replaced during the transit. The data is being reconciled from the Dubai Customs as these consignments arrived from Dubai.

Information was received through Director General Shaukat Ali that M/s K.K Metal Industries in association with customs bonded carrier M/s Saif-ur-Rehman & Brothers and other culpritsare involved in the clandestine removal/smuggling of mobile phones, tablet PCs, LED TVs and other electronic goods under the garb of import of computer broken parts availing TP facilities and are disposing the goods from their private warehouse in the local market by breaking upon the seals of the container while enroute for its upcountry destinations.

Director Samina Wajid formed a team of Anti-smuggling Organization comprising Superintendent Akmal Hashmi and Imran under the supervision of Deputy Director Shah Faisal Sahu to foil attempt of smuggling and enroute pilferage of bonded goods.

The team mounted surveillance on the consignments allowed transshipment through M/s Saif-ur-Rehman & Brothers. During surveillance, the constituted team intercepted a trailer at an open yard located off Mai Kolachi road where the bonded goods including mobile phones, LED TVs, satellite dish receivers etc were being removed from the container after breaking all the seals. The goods being replaced did not correlate with the TP documents. The goods also included contraband goods.

Trailer driver Adnan and one Mohammad Junaid were arrested. During search proceedings of a Honda Vezel Pilot car present there, an amount of Rs0.898 million and a 9MM pistol with two live magazines were found, which were taken into safe custody.

There were two containers in the said consignment and the other container is being searched for, but it is suspected that the goods in the other container had already found their into the market.

Akmal Hashmi said there was a particular group, which was involved in this dirty business and evidences are being collected to prosecute the culprits.

It was known that three persons had been identified including Anees, Moiz and Raheem who are said to be involved in this dirty business.