KARACHI: The ASO Marine Section of MCC Preventive Karachi has seized large quantity of foreign origin liquor worth Rs170 million from a boat in the Sea.
Information was received through Chief Collector Saif uddin Jonejo to Collector Preventive Saqif Saeed that large quantity of smuggled liquor was present on a wooden boat Al-Madad, which would be offloaded at Coastal belt near Somiani Dam.
Additional Collector Haroon Malik formed a team led by Assistant Collector Shafi Ullah and Superintendent Anti Smuggling Iftikhar Hassan. ASO team during the patrolling spotted the suspected boat around midnight. When the Customs team moved towards the boat, but the persons onboard the wooden launch opened fired on Customs speedboat, which was returned.
The accused managed to escape in smaller boat taking advantage of the darkness. Al-Madad was seized and on checking large quantity of foreign origin liquor and beer was recovered. The value of the seized goods is Rs170 million while the value of the launch is Rs20 million.
It may be mentioned here that this seizure of liquor is the result of individual efforts of ASO Preventive Karachi despite severe shortage of resources. In past, intelligence was passed on to Maritime Security Agency (MSA) and operations were conducted utilizing MSA resources.
Last such individual operation by MCC Preventive in the sear was conducted in 2011.
Appreciating the MCC Preventive team, Chief Collector Saifuddin Junejo said ASO Preventive made seizures worth Rs30 billion in the last six months, which is a record.
He said it was the first time that there was a complete coordination between all institutions including Rangers, FC, Police, Coast Guards, and Customs was spearheading the campaign against smuggling.
Junejo informed that large number of illegal fuel stations selling smuggled fuel were sealed and many FIRs were lodged against the accused, and the anti-smuggling drive was progressing.
Collector Saquif Saeed introduced Additional Collector Haroon Mailk, Assistant Collector Shafiullah, and appreciated the efforts and dedication of his team. He said Superintendent Jamal Zia and his team had literally put their life in danger in the execution of their responsibilities.
He said the fleeing smugglers were being traced with the registration number of the launch.