RAWALPINDI: The anti-corruption Islamabad circle of Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has arrested two persons, including a customs official, allegedly involved in embezzlement worth millions of rupees.

A spokesman for FIA said the suspects were arrested after their pre-arrest bail was cancelled by the special court central. He said the official was posted as the principal appraiser to Pakistan Customs Services and he along with a trader caused a loss of more than Rs81.4 million to the national treasury.

According to the initial investigation, the trader imported 29 shipments of American brand ice cream between 2019 and 2021.

The two suspects understated the value of imported goods by under-invoicing to avoid customs duties and taxes, causing the loss to the national treasury, he added.

Meanwhile, in a joint operation by FIA immigration and Interpol, three suspects on ‘wanted list’ in murder and attempted murder cases were arrested from the UAE and brought to Sialkot.

A spokesman for the FIA said the suspects were wanted in the cases registered in Gujranwala Cantt police station in 2022, Alipur Chatta police station in 2024 and Saddar police station of Tobatek Singh in 2020.

The suspects were later handed over to the Punjab police by the FIA immigration staff Sialkot. The extradition of the suspects was made possible due to close coordination between Interpol Islamabad, Interpol Abu Dhabi and the FIA immigration Sialkot airport, the spokesman said.

Published in Dawn, May 20th, 2025