Karachi: The Intelligence and Investigation (I&I) wing of the Customs Department in Karachi has achieved a record performance in the month of December 2023, by making over 200 cases and seizing smuggled goods worth over Rs1.002 billion.
The anti-smuggling campaign was carried out under the directions of Director I&I Karachi Engineer Habib and Additional Director Afzal Ahmed Wattoo, with the active participation of Deputy Director Wasif Malik, Assistant Director Saud-ul-Hasan, Superintendent Irshad Shah and the Anti-Smuggling Organization (ASO) team.
The seized goods include cigarettes, betel nut, non-customs paid (NCP) vehicles, cosmetics, edibles, confectionary, cloth, fuel, auto parts and other items. The goods were confiscated from various locations in the city, such as warehouses, markets, godowns and vehicles.
Director General (DG) I&I Faiz Ahmed has been instrumental in the ongoing anti-smuggling drive, under whose supervision I&I had delivered record performance. He appreciated the efforts of the I&I Karachi team and urged them to continue their vigilance and enforcement against the menace of smuggling.
The Army is also monitoring the profiles of the Customs officers and staff, and even the transfers and postings are based on their reports. On the instructions of Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir, all law enforcement and security agencies are cooperating with the Customs Department in the anti-smuggling operations.
Joint check posts of Rangers, Frontier Corps (FC), Army, Police and Customs have been established at strategic points to intercept and inspect the suspected vehicles and goods. The joint operation has resulted in a significant reduction in the smuggling activities in the region.
The I&I Karachi has vowed to continue its crackdown on the smugglers and their facilitators, and to protect the national economy and security from the adverse effects of smuggling.