PESHAWAR: Customs Intelligence & Investigation, in a well coordinated operation, has seized large quantity of smuggled mobile phones worth millions of rupees.
Information was passed through Director General Intelligence & Investigation that a large cache of mobile phones were to be smuggled through Motorway to Rawalpindi.
On the instructions of Director Rashid Habib, Additional Director Dr. Faisal Bukhari coordinated with Motorway Police and the suspected vehicles were stopped and over 900 mobile phones were recovered. The driver and vehicle were taken into custody.
Seized goods belong to a Peshawar based notorious group of smugglers. The accused have a history of skirmishes and firing with Customs. Additional squads were dispatched to bring the vehicle and goods to the Directorate.
Meanwhile, it was known that the smugglers had a plan to snatch the vehicle from Customs en route office on Ring Road Peshawar. In anticipation the goods were shifted to the mobile squad from the detained vehicle in a clandestine manner.
The Custom squad was apprehended and attacked by 6 vehicles on Ring Road Peshawar and there was an exchange of fire. As anticipated, detained vehicle was taken away. The goods however to their surprise were not there in the car and the same were brought to the Directorate. The driver of the vehicle has though been arrested.
An FIR has been lodged, and with cooperation of Police raids are being conducted on the specific locations identified by the driver and great headways are expected.
This is a classic example of professionalism and Customs acting in the lead with other agencies following suit and cooperating. A rare case where the seized goods have been protected through advance planning and the attackers being brought to Justice.