PESHAWAR, July 13: The Directorate of Customs Intelligence, Peshawar, seized smuggled goods worth Rs672 million during the financial year 2001-2002, which is 644 per cent more than the seizure worth Rs124 million made during the previous financial year.

Sources said here on Saturday that the goods seized during 2001-2002, included 155 vehicles, 2057.7kg of hashish, 83.7kg of opium, 64kg of heroin, besides foreign cloth, tea, electronic items, tyres and tube-lights.

During this period two cases of antiques smuggling were also registered. These cases were registered after 57 pieces belonging to Gandhara civilization and Mehargarh civilization were recovered.

Culprits involved in these cases were nabbed and brought to justice, the sources maintained.

Concrete steps were also taken to plug tax evasion and in this regard the staff of Customs Intelligence unearthed cases of duties and tax evasion worth Rs254 million, they said.

The sources said in these cases substantial recovery was made from tax defaulters after pursing them at the adjudication level. In this way the Customs Intelligence Peshawar saved pilferage of government revenue amounting to millions of rupees.

Irregularities on the export side were also pointed out and contravention cases were framed for non-depositing $144,575, they added