Karachi: Pakistan Customs Enforcement has uncovered a unique smuggling attempt in which foreign-origin cigarettes worth millions were being transported in an MCB Bank cash van carrying Rs15 million.
The operation began when police at Moachko Check Post intercepted a security van of Mustang Security Services on RCD Highway.
Inside the van, officials found 800 dandas of Milano and Mond brand cigarettes, along with 20 sealed bags reportedly linked to MCB Bank’s cash movement.
The van was carrying four men — Ghulam Mustafa, Muhammad Raza, Muhammad Ishaq, and Muhammad Sadiq — who failed to produce any lawful import documents.
The seized goods, valued at Rs7.4 million including the vehicle, were handed over to Customs staff at Moachko Choke Point and later shifted to the Anti-Smuggling Organization (ASO) Headquarters, NMB Wharf, Karachi for detailed examination. Despite repeated reminders, MCB Bank representatives did not appear to witness the inspection of the sealed bags, which remain under scrutiny.
Officials confirmed that smugglers are increasingly resorting to cunning methods due to tightened controls on conventional smuggling routes. Transporting contraband in a cash van was described as a new tactic aimed at misleading enforcement agencies.
Chief Collector Basit Abbasi, under his anti-smuggling policy, has directed strict vigilance, while Collector Umar Shafique is credited with detecting several unique cases. Customs Enforcement, despite limited resources, has significantly controlled smuggling activities.
The operation was supervised by Additional Collector Yasir Kalwar, Assistant Collector Tauseef Ahmed, and the ASO team, who prepared a musheernama documenting the recovery. Notices of arrest were issued under Section 171 of the Customs Act, 1969, and the accused were remanded into Customs custody for further investigation.