QUETTA: A high level meeting; attended by the representatives of Customs, Police, Intelligence Bureau, Frontier Constabulary (FC) and ISI; has planned a joint operation against dumping places of smuggled goods and showrooms housing non-custom-paid (NCP) vehicles.
The meeting focused on the smuggling of arms and ammunition in perspective of Aghan pullout.
The Collector, Collectorate of Customs, Enforcement, Quetta being the convener delivered welcome note followed by the introduction of all the participants.
A thorough discussion regarding progress on tasks assigned during Provincial Level Task Force / Border Level Task Force! Border Terminal Crossing Point Teams Cross Border and implementation status was discussed.
Objective of this initiative of the Federal Government is to create liaison among all the law enforcement agencies to enhance the operational capacity by coordinated and joint action to effectively check smuggling.
During the course of meeting emphasis was laid on enhanced collaboration amongst all the law enforcement agencies for quick and effective reaction on any workable intelligence.
In this regard it was decided that a WhatsApp group of representatives of all the agencies be created by the Deputy Collector (HQ-1).
The meeting emphasized on these areas:
(i) Smuggling of Arms and Ammunition in emerging geo-strategic situation.
(ii) Smuggling of NDP vehicles and existence of their showrooms thereof and need of a joint operation.
(iii) Smuggling on Tartan- Quetta routes and need of a coordinated effort.
(iv) Smuggling of general goods.
It was agreed that the dumping places for the storage of smuggling will be identified and joint operations will be carried out on those places to seize the smuggled goods, joint Nakas shall be carried out in different areas of the city to seize NCP vehicles without delay.
Special focus was laid upon the possibility of smuggling of arms and ammunition into Pakistan, and it was decided and agreed by the representatives of all the agencies that a joint and coordinated effort shall be made to thwart any such activity. \
Moreover, it was also decided that any such specific or general information will be shared by the representatives of the agencies amongst themselves for a joint effort to check the smuggling of arms and ammunition.
An official said all this strategy is aimed at providing relief to the masses going forward. It may be mentioned here that next year PTI will be starting the election campaign.
Smuggling poses great risks to a nation’s economy and security. It hurts the local production and money made from this dirty business funds terrorist elements.
It may be mentioned here that Customs Quetta, with the assistance of law enforcement agencies, made seizures of smuggled goods worth Rs12 billion last fiscal year. Collector Quetta Irfan Javed hoped that the cooperation of law enforcement agencies would continue going forward.