QUETTA: Customs Enforcement Balochistan has broken the network of smuggling and extortion, which had taken over the Customs check-posts inflicting heavy losses to the national economy.
Sources said that with the facilitation of a former Collector Enforcement, for the last six months Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani had actually occupied several check posts in the province mostly on the border area including Nokandi, Dalbandin and others.
They were extorting Rs30,000 from every loading vehicle passing through various check posts. An average of 250 such vehicles pass through the check posts each day. Sanjrani and company often used the name of security outfits.
Sources said this practice had severely impacted the Customs Enforcement activities. Sadiq Sanjrani’s brother Ejaz Sanjrani was reportedly the in-charge of money collection.
Member Customs Mukaram Jah Ansari took notice of the situation. And, Abdul Qadir Memon, a very reputed and competent officer, was moved from the office of Chief Collector Enforcement Karachi to the office of Chief Collector Enforcement Baluchistan.
Collector Enforcement Quetta was transferred pre-mature, and another highly reputed officer Samiul Haq was posted as Collector Enforcement Quetta.
Besides, the personnel posted at these check posts were transferred. Four BS-16 officers were moved from Enforcement to Appraisement.
The new Enforcement team performed efficiently, and check posts were restored and enforcement activities are continuing. However, severe harassment, false complaints and other pressure tactics are being employed to remove these officers to other posts. Threat to life cannot be ruled out either. To recall, Deputy Collector Abdul Qudoos was martyred in Quetta in the line of duty.
Chief Collector Abdul Qadir Memon has appreciated the effort of Additional Collector Moin Afzal and Assistant Collector Shafiullah. Despite the fact that these two officers are from Appraisement, they performed exceptionally streamlining certain sectors of the Customs including Auction and Law Implementation.
Meanwhile, On the basis of credible information by Worthy Collector Mr. Sami Ul Haq, Customs Enforcement, Quetta communicated through Mr. Moeen Afzal Ali, Additional Collector, Customs Enforcement, Quetta passed to Mr. Haseeb Hassan, Assistant Collector, Customs Enforcement, Rakhshan Division and Mr Asif Zaman Superintendent, Customs Enforcement, Rakhshan Division regarding smuggling of contraband Goods and Fertilizer from/ into country via unfrequented Routes from Dalbandin.
In this regard closed operation were conducted with District Administration Chagai. Resultantly 2 trucks were seized and after thorough checking, 28000kgs Betel Nuts (340-parcel of 45kg each, 175-parcels of 65kgs each and 25-parcel of 70kgs each) were recovered from one Truck and 35000kgs Sersabz Fertilizer (700-parcels of 50kgs each ) were recovered from another truck.