KARACHI: Collectorate of Customs Preventive Anti-Smuggling Organization (ASO) recovered smuggled goods and non-duty paid vehicles worth Rs440.15 million from April 1 to April 18 during different anti-smuggling operations.
Addressing a press conference, Collector Customs Preventive Saquif Saeed said that anti-smuggling squad comprising Additional Collector Haroon Malik, Assistant Collector Shafi Ulah, Superintendent Abdul Jabbar Khan Niazi and other staff members conducted various Intelligence Based Operations (IBOs) and recovered huge quantity of smuggled goods and vehicles.
He said major portion of the seized goods comprises betel nuts, non-customs paid vehicles, cosmetics, transporting vehicles, cloth etc. He said major focus was to eliminate illicit trade of hazardous betel nuts and 174 tons of betel nuts worth Rs208 million was seized from a factory cum warehouses namely M/s Nagina/Kiran Foods, SITE, M/s Bombay and Anas Foods, Federal B Area.
9 non-customs paid vehicles were seized till April 18, while overall 30 vehicles worth Rs120 million during the last three months.
Expired and smuggled cosmetics worth Rs40.2 million were seized from Jamshed Town which were feared to be sold out in the local market.
12 vehicles meant for transportation of smuggled goods including a boat worth Rs32.5 million has been seized.
Cigarettes worth Rs24 millions were seized from various godowns in Jodia Bazar.
Collector Saquif Saeed said that he directed all anti-smuggling squads to adopt zero tolerance policy against smuggling and anyone who found involved in smuggling should be dealt as per law.