ISLAMABAD: Smuggled cloth worth Rs20 million has been recovered from warehouses located in Karachi.

The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) said in a statement that the Intelligence Team of Customs Enforcement, Karachi, conducted surveillance on warehouses in the Aram Bagh market, and Al-Jadeed Market, Saddar, where a huge quantity of foreign-made smuggled cloth was dumped.

The Customs team was constituted under the supervision of Dep­uty Collector Customs, Anti-Smug­gling Organisation (ASO), Collec­torate of Customs, Enfor­cement, to carry out the joint operation at the identified places along with Sindh Police and Rangers personnel.

When the raiding team reached the location a violent mob comprising more than a hundred people attacked them with sticks and stones, also causing damage to government vehicles.

A few gunshots were also fired by the miscreants, who dispersed after police resorted to firing in the air.

Two Customs sepoys suffered minor injuries during the operation.

The smuggled cloth seized from the warehouses was taken to the ASO headquarters for examination.

An FIR has been registered at Aram Bagh police station as well as at the Customs Court.

Adviser to the Prime Minister on Finance and Revenue Shaukat Tarin has commended the raiding party for the operation and praised the FBR for its drive against tax evasion.

FBR Chairman Ashfaq Ahmed has announced that cash rewards and commendation certificates would be given to the raiding team.

Published in Dawn, December 12th, 2021