PESHAWAR: Customs at Torkham Station has successfully thwarted an attempt to smuggle Indian Origin Ispaghol into the country.
Officials inspected import vehicle No. TKA-334 and discovered the banned substance hidden within the consignment.
The smugglers had attempted to deceive customs officials by wrapping the Ispaghol husk in simple, clear bags. However, their efforts were in vain as a detailed examination revealed approximately 10,000 kg of the Indian husk with brand Deepak printed on them, valued at Rs. 10 million and incurring duty and taxes of about Rs. 2.5 million.
An FIR has been filed against two Afghan residents and and resident of Peshawar, and investigations are currently ongoing to determine the full scope of the smuggling operation. The total value implicated in the case amounts to Rs. 19.9 million, which includes Rs. 2.4 million for non-offending goods and Rs. 5 million for the value of the vehicle used in the smuggling attempt.
Under the directive of Chief Collector Saeed Akram, and through the concerted efforts of Collector Amjad ur Rehman, Additional Collector Rizwan Khan and deputy Collector Torkham Mustafa Zamir, anti-smuggling activities have been intensified in the region. This incident follows closely on the heels of another significant seizure by Customs Peshawar, where a sepoy of the Frontier Corps was arrested for attempting to smuggle $70,000 to Afghanistan via Torkham. The swift actions of the customs officials underscore the relentless commitment to curbing illegal trade across the border.