Lahore: The Customs Intelligence Lahore has shown remarkable performance in both anti-smuggling and enforcement fields during the current fiscal year 2023-24 (July-December), under the vision and leadership of Ch. Faiz Ahmad Chadhar, Director General, Intelligence & Investigation- Customs, Pakistan.
The Lahore team followed the DG’s zero tolerance policy against smuggling and evasion, and achieved extraordinary results by meticulous planning and precise implementation of tax laws, under the adept management of Director, Mr. Muhammad Haris Ansari. The teams in the field were actively supervised by Additional Director Ch. Rizwan Bashir Kalair.
The anti-smuggling arm of the Directorate successfully framed 234 seizure cases of record value Rs. 3790 million, which is an increase of 13.5% compared to the previous fiscal year 2022-23 (July-December). The operations were planned and executed jointly with Police and other law enforcement agencies, including intelligence agencies.
Customs Intelligence Lahore broke all records of seizures in the second quarter of the fiscal year 2022-23 by seizing goods worth Rs. 2365 million. However, this fiscal year 2023-24, it even surpassed that best ever quarter by a record 23% by seizing goods worth Rs. 2904 million. This is the best ever quarter record in the history of the Lahore Region.
Similarly, the Directorate also created a record for the highest seizures in a month by seizing goods and vehicles worth Rs. 1703 million in October, 2023, improving the previous best record of Rs. 1231 million, with an increase of 38%.
The Directorate of I&I-Customs, Lahore, on a specific tip provided by an Intelligence Agency, conducted a comprehensive operation and raided 14 different illegal oil pumping and storage sites in Machikey, Sargodha Road, Sheikhpura and recovered foreign origin petrol 1,754,000 liters, diesel 34,000 liters, along with 27 carrier vehicles and five static tanks, totaling Rs. 1118 million.
Customs Intelligence also conducted major operations against smuggling of cigarettes at Shah Alam Market and Hamayun Plaza Pan Markets, Lahore and recovered foreign origin cigarettes and other contraband goods valuing around Rs. 400 million.
During the current fiscal year 2023-24 (July-December), the revenue realized through auction and recovery of duty and taxes by the ASO branch is about Rs. 300 million, against last year’s recovery of Rs. 252 million, thus registering an increase of 19%.
The Investigation and Prosecution (I&P) branch lodged 52 FIRs, arrested 32 offenders, and busted organized gangs involved in smuggling of POL, tyres (Afghan Transit) and cigarettes during this period. The criminal proceedings have been initiated against the accused persons. A major crackdown has been initiated against the mafia involved in the smuggling of diesel and petrol, jointly with intelligence agencies.
The enforcement branch detects evasion of duty and taxes cases from custom stations (dry ports/airports etc). During the current fiscal year 2023-24 (July-December), the Enforcement Wing of Customs Intelligence, Lahore performed exceptionally well. Key achievements are as follows:
During the current fiscal year 2023-24 (July-December), the enforcement wing registered cases involving duty and taxes of Rs. 1034 million.
During the current fiscal year 2023-24 (July-December), the revenue realized by the enforcement branch is about Rs. 56 million, against 18.7 million recovered in the previous fiscal year 2022-23 (July-December), which is an increase of 200%.
Director General Customs Intelligence, Ch. Faiz Ahmad Chadhar has lauded efforts of the Lahore team for unprecedented achievements on both fronts. He emphasized that this contribution of Lahore Region is part of a coordinated drive of the Directorate General of Customs Intelligence in particular and FBR in general against smuggling and tax evasion. He further stressed that performance of the Directorate General of Intelligence & Investigation-Customs throughout the country was exceptional, especially when compared with available scarce resources (HR & finances).
Director Customs Intelligence lauded the efforts of Director Muhammad Haris Ansari for his adept and precise planning for conducting operations and active supervision and coordination of Ch. Rizwan Bashir Kalair, Additional Director with LEAs, Shah Samad Hamadani, Deputy Director and Mr. Muhammad Mubeen (Supdt. ASO), Mr. Rai Waqar (Supdt. ASO Gurnjawala) and Mr. Hameed Bhatti (Incharge. Enforcement) and respective his teams especially I.Os Asif Jakhar, Ahtisham Naveed & Sepoy Syed Amir Shabbir. Additional Director, Ch. Rizwan Bashir Kalair, emphasized that such crackdown against menace of smuggling and evasion of duty and taxes shall continue with full force and stated that his team will continue to perform exceptionally achieve exempaly results.