KARACHI: ASO of MCC Preventive Karachi has seized large quantity of betel nut along with transporting vehicles worth Rs63.855 million.
Information was received through Collector Preventive Saquif Saeed to Additional Collector Waqar Malik to the effect that considerable quantity of smuggled betelnut and other smuggled goods were dumped at a warehouse of M/s Sunny Product SITE-B Area for further distribution in the city.
A team headed by Deputy Collector Muhammad Asim Awan and comprising Superintendent Iftikhar Shah reached the warehouse. One person came forward and introduced himself as Irshad Khan, manager of the warehouse.
Examination of a container at the warehouse led to recovery of sweet supari and crockery and betel nut. Search of the warehouse found three more vehicles loaded with betel nut. The manager of the warehouse failed t produce proving legal import and possession of the recovered goods.
The goods have been seized and FIR is lodged. The value of the seized goods is Rs28.8 million, while cumulative value of the seized goods including vehicles come to Rs63.85 million.
It may be mentioned here that ASO MCC Preventive has been quite efficient against smuggling, while ASO of Customs Intelligence and Investigation Karachi has not been able to deliver. An official said senior officers posted at Customs I&I Karachi since many years, and their policies had adversely affected the network and efficiency of ASO Customs I&I Karachi
Director I&I Karachi Yaqoob Mako recently held a meeting which was attended by Additional Director Ali Zaman Gardezi, Deputy Director Saad Rabbani, Superintendent Sikander Khanzada and the entire ASO team.
Mako expressed his anger on the poor performance of ASO and warned the ASO staff if their performance was not improved by the end of month, the ASO would be closed like the SIU. Mako was furious that a Byco’s tanker carrying smuggled fuel was released without his consent.=
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