Karachi: Pakistan Customs Enforcement has lodged a First Information Report (FIR) after intercepting two oil tankers carrying 96,000 liters of High-Speed Diesel (HSD) near Gate No. 1, Kemari. The seized fuel, along with the tankers and documents, is valued at Rs89.36 million.
According to the FIR, the operation was conducted by the Anti-Smuggling Organization (ASO) team led by Preventive Officer Mubashir Naveed, with SPS Naeem Ahmed, IPS Farooq Ahmad, and other officers. The drivers, Tasawar Abbas and Muhammad Imtiaz, admitted the tankers were repeatedly transporting fuel from M/s Caspian Oil, Kemari, to the storage facilities of M/s Al-Noor Petroleum Pvt. Ltd. and M/s Fuel XL Petroleum Pvt. Ltd., using the same auction documents multiple times.
Investigations revealed that over 398,913 liters of HSD had already been moved under this method, while another 397,018 liters were transported using misused government gate passes. Records showed connivance between M/s Caspian Oil, M/s Al-Rahim Trading Company, and M/s Al-Noor Petroleum/Fuel XL Petroleum, pointing to a coordinated scheme of smuggling under the cover of lawful papers.
During inspections, Customs found 1,050,488 liters of HSD stored in Tank No. ATC-07 and 1,253,911 liters of Motor Gasoline (PMG) in Tank No. ATL-11, both sealed pending verification. Several other tankers suspected of carrying smuggled fuel were also detained.
Officials noted that smugglers are increasingly using trucks with multiple number plates, swapping them to hoodwink authorities. They also confirmed that not just fuel, but several other smuggled goods are transported in this way.
This case is considered unique, as such large-scale attempts are rarely detected. The crackdown is being spearheaded by Collector Enforcement Umar Shafique, acting on the instructions of Chief Collector Basit Abbasi. Shafique, described as one of the few officers seasoned in both anti-smuggling and appraisement, has intensified operations across the board.
Additional Collector Yasir Kalwar and Assistant Collector Toufique Ahmed also played key roles in the investigation. Notices have been served to the drivers, managers, and directors of the companies involved, while further inquiries continue to trace the financial trail and duty evasion.