KARACHI: MCC Quetta has seized large quantity of foreign origin cigarettes having a market value of Rs4.2 million, which was being transported through passenger buses.
Information was passed through Collector MCC Quetta to Additional Collector Preventive Zubair Shah that attempt would be made to transport smuggled goods. In pursuance of the information, Customs staff including Deputy Collector Maqbool Ahmed, Deputy Superintendent Maqsood Ahmed and Inspectors Ghulam hussain Khoso, Mohammad Asghar and Mir Qalam intercepted two passenger buses for checking at Lakpas Checkpost.
However, the drivers of the buses attempted to make good their escape by speeding away. The vehicles were being escorted by accomplices of smugglers in two private cars who opened fire at customs check post, Lakpas which was retaliated by the staff.
Anti smuggling staff with the aid of other law enforcement agencies finally intercepted the vehicles near Lakpas tunnel and recovered large quantity of foreign origin cigarettes of brands including Marlboro, Pine, Dunhill and Benson & Hedges.
The smugglers also blocked the RCD Highway for more than two hours whereupon the local Levies lodged an FIR against the suspects and arrested one person. Customs has seized the offending goods along with two coaches worth Rs6.0 million investigations are underway.