Sukkur: In a startling development, the Customs Anti-Smuggling Unit in Sukkur has registered a First Information Report (FIR) against Fazal Ahmed, a Deputy Director of the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA), for allegedly possessing a smuggled and non-duty paid Toyota Premio car with a tampered chassis number.
The case, which highlights a serious breach of law by a senior official tasked with upholding it, unfolded on February 2nd. Acting on a tip-off from the Federal Sensitive Intelligence Agency, a Customs team raided the NCCIA office in Sukkur and found the white Toyota Premio (Registration No. AYP-538) parked on the premises.
Upon initial inspection, the vehicle’s visible chassis number was recorded as ZZT240-0061554. However, when the Customs authorities sent the car for forensic examination at the Larkana Forensic Science Laboratory, a different story emerged.
The forensic report, dated February 3, 2026, revealed that after chemical treatment, the original chassis number was found to be ZZT240-0034816. The report concluded that the last five digits “61554” had been re-punched over the original digits “34816,” confirming deliberate tampering intended to conceal the vehicle’s true identity.
According to the FIR, when confronted by the Customs team, Deputy Director Fazal Ahmed, the possession holder of the vehicle, could not produce any valid import documents, auction certificates, or legal proof of duty payment. Furthermore, a check of the computerized Pakistan Revenue Automation (PRAI) database showed no official record of the vehicle’s lawful import or registration.
The Collectorate of Customs Enforcement, Hyderabad, assessed the vehicle’s value at approximately Rs. 1.14 million. The calculated duty and taxes evaded on the 2003 model car amount to a staggering Rs. 2.15 million. This includes unpaid customs duty, additional duties, sales tax, federal excise duty, and withholding tax.
The Customs department has seized the vehicle and escorted it to a state warehouse in Sukkur. An FIR (No. 01/2025-26) has been formally registered against Fazal Ahmed under Section 2(a) & 16 of the Customs Act, 1969, read with relevant statutory orders, and Section 3(1) of the Import & Exports Control Act, 1950. The charges are punishable under clauses related to smuggling and evasion of duty.
The FIR notes that other facilitators in the smuggling racket are yet to be identified and that the investigation is ongoing.
This incident raises serious questions about the integrity of officials within law enforcement agencies. The involvement of a cybercrime official in a case involving a tampered chassis number—a classic tactic used by smugglers and car thieves—has sparked public outrage and demands for a transparent and rigorous investigation.
Customs officials have stated that the case will be presented before the Special Judge (Customs Taxation and Anti-Smuggling) in Karachi, and they are determined to pursue it to its logical conclusion, irrespective of the accused’s official position.
The NCCIA headquarters has not yet issued an official statement regarding the suspension or departmental proceedings against the accused officer.