ISLAMABAD, Sep 09 (APP): Pakistan Customs has seized essential commodities worth Rs2.25 billion over the past fortnight in an intensified anti-smuggling crackdown across the country.
Sugar and Urea are smuggled from Pakistan, whereas POL is smuggled into the country through unfrequented routes spanning the bordering areas of Afghanistan and Iran.
The smuggled goods were subsequently transported via trucks and in the case of passenger vehicles in smaller quantities to the main urban centres, according to a press release issued here on Saturday.
The operations were conducted in Quetta, D.I. Khan, Multan, Karachi, Sargodha and Lahore regions. The major seized essential commodities included sugar, urea, POL, Pak currency as well as tyres, black tea, betel nuts, vehicles, iron, steel and other goods.
In the Balochistan region on 2nd September, Customs Enforcement-Quetta seized 1,637 tons of sugar worth approximately Rs1.0 billion from smugglers in a convoy of 15 trucks.
This was followed by a massive seizure of smuggled goods and vehicles, worth Rs519 million on Daraban-Darazinda Road DIK on 3rd Sep 2023 in collaboration with local police and 218,000 litres of smuggled POL/diesel, valuing approximately Rs137.6 million by Customs Enforcement-D.I. Khan.
Last week, Customs Enforcement – Karachi disrupted the flow of smuggled POL by seizing Iranian origin 115,000 litres of diesel and 30,000 litres of petrol.
Moreover, strict instructions to the anti-smuggling formations including mobile squads of the Collectorates and airports have been issued to keep vigilance on the illicit movement of essential goods/commodities, Iranian POL and currency.
Chairman FBR Malik Amjed Zubair Tiwana and Member Customs (Operations) Zeba Hai Azhar have appreciated the Pakistan Customs for taking timely action to thwart the smuggling of essential goods.
Pakistan Customs is committed to eliminating the menace of smuggling and will continue intensifying its anti-smuggling operations across the country.