KOHAT, June 29: Smuggling of livestock to Afghanistan is continuing unchecked, rendering the government’s efforts to control the price of beef ineffective, it is learnt. Dawn has learnt that 10 to 15 trucks loaded with cattle are smuggled daily from Punjab to Kohat and later to Afghanistan via an unfrequented route in the tribal areas in the night.

Each truck carries 10 to 12 animals and the smugglers pay Rs200 per animal to police after offloading the cattle near the Kurram Agency border in Thall.

Then, the carriers take the animals on foot through the unfrequented Khapianga route to Paktia and Paktika provinces of Afghanistan.

Sources alleged the staff at an illegal traffic police checkpoint established on the border between Hangu district and Kurram Agency charged Rs100 from the truckers carrying customs duty paid goods to Afghanistan. Customs officials charged Rs300 extra for speedy clearance of the documents without checking the vehicle, they alleged.

The smugglers have constructed huge yards for keeping the animals and they smuggle them in lots of 50s and 70s in connivance with police. As export of animals is banned, the smugglers bribe police to enter the unfrequented routes in the tribal areas.

The tax on each animal brought into the tribal area from the settled districts was Rs80 and for exporting it to Afghanistan, Rs100 had to be paid to the tribal administration. But they pay Rs20 to police for the illegal trade.

In one week, the smugglers shift 65 to 70 trucks loaded with animals and they are not spotted by the military troops and levies guarding the borders with Afghanistan.

Experts dealing with tribal affairs say that earlier smuggling of vehicles was rampant on the Afghan border, where the smugglers had constructed huge yards for parking vehicles.