GILGIT, Jan 16: The Gilgit traffic police impounded at least 49 illegal vehicles, including motorcycles, on Wednesday in a drive against illegal vehicles, police sources told Dawn.

The police, deployed at the main entry points of the city in the morning to check documents of vehicles, impounded 49 illegal vehicles.

According to the sources, there are more than 3,000 illegal vehicles in the five districts of Northern Areas. The vehicles include those on which Customs duty has not been paid.

These vehicles are being imported to region from Spin Bouldak, Afghanistan, via Swat and sold at 80 percent lower prices. Land cruisers and Pajeros with a market value of Rs3.2 million are being sold for just Rs300,000. Similarly, unpaid Customs-duty luxury cars with a market value of Rs1.3 million are sold for just Rs150,000 in Gilgit.

The sources said Gilgit and Baltistan had become a hub of stolen motorcycles.