QUETTA: A divisional level border management Task force meeting on Anti-Smuggling is also scheduled to be held on Tuesday, i.e. 14.09.2021, at MCC Quetta.
Representatives of FC, Police, MI, ISI, IB FIA, ANF, provincial government, I&l Customs and other agencies have been invited for the same for a coordinated and reinforced joint action against smuggling.
Meanwhile, Collector Customs Enforcement Quetta Irfan Javed placed one Assistant Collector, two Inspectors and nine Sepoys off duty and constituted a fact finding committee duly headed by Additional Collector Umer Shafique and consisting of DC Malik Muhammad Ahmed and AC Hameer Khan. The Committee is bound to report its findings within a fortnight. A credible information was received by the Collector that certain smugglers will attempt to smuggle goods through Taftan-Noshki route. Resultantly, in co-ordination with Intelligence agencies, goods were stopped after they crossed Noshki check post.
Subsequently all the staff posted at check post was placed off duty and is facing disciplinary & criminal action. An FIR has also been lodged against smugglers. Criminal action will be taken against Customs officials in case the probe committee finds such evidences.
All Customs officers and officials have been warned to exercise maximum caution and enhance vigilance. It may be recalled that the Collector made surprise visits to various check posts recently and took departmental action against the delinquents.
Chaman border with Afghanistan has been completely fenced and fencing on the Taftan border and adjacent area is under way which is expected to be completed shortly after which 100% of Pak-Afghan border will be fenced.
The quantum of smuggling from Balochistan has reduced drastically during the last one year which can be gauged by scarcity of smuggled goods available in markets at major cities such as Karachi, Lahore, etc. The Collectorate of Customs Enforcement Quetta is observing zero tolerance policy against smuggling. Other agencies of civil and military establishment are also in continuous liaisons with the Collectorate on regular basis.
Customs is also utilizing the advanced equipment available with intelligence agencies to keep vigilance on the movement of smuggled goods.It was known that the WhatsApp data of officers and officials is also being monitored.