RAWALPINDI: On the instruction of Director General Customs Intelligence and Investigation Faiz Ahmad Chadhar, the customs staff revamped the anti-smuggling drive to check smuggling and ensure collection of revenue for the government kitty.

A press release said a new team headed by Saima Shahzad, Director, and led in the field by Chaudhry Rizwan Bashir Kaliar, Additional Director, decided to launch the anti-smuggling campaign.

During the campaign, the Anti-Smuggling Organisation (ASO) of the directorate registered 47 seizures in September worth Rs354.3 million which was 15.1pc higher compared to the value of seizures in the preceding month.

The ASO wings of the directorate (Lahore and Gujranwala) seized commodities, including 29,064 kg fabric worth Rs65.8 million, 10 NCP vehicles (Mercedes Benz 2009, Audi car 2009, Toyota Crown car 2005, land cruiser Prado) worth Rs49.5 million, 14 carrier vehicles worth Rs57 million, 2,060 tyres worth Rs32.1 million, scrap worth Rs23 million, electronics items worth Rs15 million, smuggled cigarettes worth Rs10 million, 1,026 kg walnuts worth Rs5 million, 6,000 kg paraffin wax worth Rs6 million, 4750 kg skimmed milk worth Rs4.2 million, 2,240 kg betel nuts worth Rs3.8 million and other goods such as Iranian shopping bags, black tea, cumin seed, auto parts, garments, artificial jewellery, glue sticks worth Rs88.5 million.

The Enforcement Branch of the directorate, on the other hand, framed five contraventions against evasion of Rs54.9 million duty/taxes.

The Investigation and Prosecution Branch arrested a smuggler who was one of the ringleaders operating a network of smuggling in the region. Efforts are underway to arrest other members of the network.

The customs regional office Lahore enhanced its performance in September as in July it had registered seizures worth Rs224 million and in August worth Rs307 million.

Published in Dawn, October 5th, 2022