KARACHI: ASO Customs Intelligence and Investigation Karachi raided Mashallah Building on M.A Jinnah Road and recovered large quantity of smuggled cigarettes, gutka and cosmetics. An FIR is lodged against several accused to be ascertained later.
Director I&I Karachi has advised his team to tighten the grip around this dirty business and also ordered raids on markets and warehouses dealing in smuggled goods. An official said Yaqoob Mako was trying to strengthen the ASO of I&I Karachi to efficiently counter smuggling.
The official said ASO of I&I needed a restructuring because the officers posted at I&I for several years couldn’t be effective against the smuggling rings. The official said there were reports that certain I&I officers had developed understanding with the traders.
Recently, a raid was conducted at Yusuf Goth in Karachi which is the dumping ground of all smuggled goods. The ASO team seized a reasonable quantity of smuggled goods, but the warehouses in Yusuf Goth were not raided. These warehouses are said to be flooded with smuggled goods.
However, raids are being conducted and cases are being made, but not at a pace which is needed and expected.
Information was received through Director Yaqoob Mako regarding movement and dumping of smuggled goods at Mashallah Building at M.A Jinnah Road. A monitoring of the building was conducted, which confirmed the veracity of information.
A joint operation with SSU of Sindh Police was launched and search of the premises led to recovery of above mentioned smuggled goods worth Rs111.789 million. Efforts are underway to ascertain the owners of the goods.
Deputy Director Saad Atta Rabani, Superintendent Sikander Hayat Khanzada, Akmal Hashmi, Humairuddin, Adnan Kafeel, Khurum Saeed, Shafi Jamali, Ahmad Hassan Junejo took part in this operation.