KHUZDAR: Customs Enforcement has seized a large quantity of new tyres, which were being smuggled in the garb of old tyres. The value of the seized goods long with carrier vehicles comes to Rs37.4 million. An FIR is lodged and investigations are underway. It is the third FIR lodged by Khuzdar Customs this month.
Customs Enforcement Khuzdar, under the strict directives of Collector Muhammad Saleem Memon, has intercepted a suspicious shipment. Deputy Collector Syed Talha Salman, spearheading the operation, deployed a team led by Inspector Muhammad Shahzad to the Khurkhera Check Post.
At approximately 6:30 PM, the team halted a Hino Truck Trailer en route from Quetta to Karachi. The vehicle, bearing the registration number TLF-994, was found to contain a mix of old and new tyres of various brands and sizes. Notably, the new tyres were concealed beneath the old ones, raising immediate suspicion.
The driver, upon request, presented auctioned delivery orders that were over a year old, casting doubts on their validity. A detailed inspection revealed a stark discrepancy between the documented and actual contents: the delivery orders listed only five tyres, whereas the container held a staggering 627 tyres, with no sign of the other goods listed.
As a result, the Customs staff detained the goods, container, and vehicle, issuing detention memo No. 13-Cus/Detention/Ms-KK/2024 dated 10.06.2024. The driver was given a two-day ultimatum to produce legitimate documents, failing which the detention would escalate to a seizure/FIR under the Customs Act, 1969.
The deadline passed without any claimants for the goods, leading to the conversion of the detention memo into an FIR. The goods, container, and vehicle were seized for violating multiple sections of the Customs Act, 1969, and related regulations.
Driver Ahmedullah, identified as the accused, has been issued a notice under Section 171 of the Customs Act, 1969. Despite this being the third FIR lodged by Customs Khuzdar against smuggling, the illegal trade persists, exacerbated by a 40% surge in tyre imports following a ban on certain goods under the Afghan Transit Trade.
This operation is part of an ongoing anti-smuggling campaign, signaling the authorities’ unwavering commitment to curbing illegal activities and enforcing trade regulations.