RAWALPINDI, Jan 26: Flag hoisting ceremony and destruction of contraband at Margalla dry port marked the International Customs Day on Wednesday.

The ceremony was presided over by Mohammad Riaz, the Director General, Customs and Intelligence.

The Model Customs Collectorate (MCC) destroyed 3,000 bottles of liquor and 55 cartons of expired smuggled drugs and a large quantity of raw material of medicines, seized by the Customs.

Furthermore, the customs destroyed 584 packets of contraband medicines, 200 pieces of obscene CDs and 738 packets of expired medicines.

Islamabad Customs Collector Servet Tahira Habib  highlighted the collection of duty and taxes which she said had more than doubled when compared with last year.

She said during last six months, 105 per cent net revenue targets had been achieved by the Customs Collectorate collecting Rs1824.32 million in duties and taxes from imports, and through recoveries and anti-smuggling measures.

She said a fresh strategy to check smuggling was being devised under the guidance of Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and Customs Intelligence.

She also acknowledged the performance of clearing agents whose role she said was not only a great help for the traders to get their goods cleared within the legal framework, but a source of motivation for the businesses for higher trade volumes in this collectorate.

She said the Customs authorities seized 45 non-duty paid vehicles valuing Rs93 million and 19 other vehicles carrying smuggled goods of Rs10 million in the six months.

The Customs Preventive Staff also seized more than 95,000 yards of cloth, 369 tyres, 2,000 blankets and other goods.

Later talking to newsment, DG customs intelligence Mohammed Riaz said that customs department had already taken action against those involved in container missing case. Since the matter is sub judice he did not give any further comments.