PESHAWAR, June 20: The customs department is unable to run an effective anti-smuggling drive because of shortage of staff and lack of coordination with the police department.
“Legally, police is not authorised to check vehicles for smuggling or impound non-custom paid vehicles, but they are doing both,” said an official. According to the Custom Act 1969, the police should hand over all contraband materials to the customs department.
But police do not inform the customs department about vehicle seizures, officials said.
Officials at the anti-smuggling section of the customs department in Peshawar say that the police officials mainly used the impounded vehicles for their own personal use and that was why they avoided handing them over the customs department.
They said that staff shortage had rendered the customs department ineffective, adding that there had been no fresh recruitment since 1976. About 900 constables are needed to cover the whole province apart from the Torkham and Mohmand tribal agencies. Most of the constables had aged and were unable to effectively perform field duties.
Instructions issued by the Central Board of Revenue, Islamabad, on July 15, 2004, had barred the customs department’s anti-smuggling squad from checking vehicles and other anti-smuggling activities without explicit instructions from superintendent and deputy superintendent.
On Dec 21, 2004, the Collectorate of Custom, Peshawar made the problem further complicated when it ordered that the operations against smuggling be carried out in the presence of superintendent and deputy superintendent.
“In the absence of the superintendent or his deputy, the customs squad is helpless even if its officials witness any smuggling activity,” official said.
Officials said that police is benefiting from these anomalies, who carry out checking and erect barricades on the roads.
Officials said that the CBR was in the process of preparation of the draft National Anti-smuggling strategy to cope with the problems faced by the staff and to cope with menace of smuggling effectively.
“The strategy may be adopted next month. Suggestions include fresh recruitments, provision of modern vehicles and communication equipment,” officials said.
They said that there was also a proposal to obtains the services of junior commissioned officers and non-commissioned officers from the army and personnel from the Frontier Constabulary on deputation as a stop gap arrangement.
The department has also proposed the removal of unnecessary force at Attock and barricades to facilitate the smooth flow of traffic.
According to the new plan, staff would be permanently posted at more important points, like Sher Garh, Yakaghund in the Mohmand Agency and Torkham.
