The Directorate General of Intelligence and Investigation, Customs and Excise, Islamabad, has detected massive smuggling of rice, beans and other commodities to Iran, reflecting failure of customs department in performing anti-smuggling activities at the borders.
Sources told Business Recorder on Thursday that the directorate has received credible information from its network in Balochistan unearthing smuggling of essential items to the neighbouring country. According to DG intelligence, sources in Balochistan have reported smuggling of rice, beans and other items in large quantities during Ramazan.
Explaining the modus operandi adopted by smugglers, sources said the traders/smugglers bring these items from Karachi and other parts of the country to border areas. The items are stored in warehouses and storage facilities along border areas for onward smuggling to Iran through small trucks and pickups.
The directorate apprehended that the government already wanted to end smuggling of wheat during Ramazan and customs department needs to conduct a thorough investigation with the help of Collector of Customs, Quetta, directorate added.
The recent report of the DG intelligence is pointing towards an ineffective anti-smuggling strategy at the border areas of NWFP and Balochistan. The customs department, being the sole anti-smuggling agency, seemed to be helpless in controlling massive smuggling of consumer items to neighbouring countries. The board wanted to establish several customs stations across Balochistan coastline following withdrawal of anti-smuggling powers of the Frontier Corps (FC)/Coast Guards. It was agreed to set up new customs stations at Dam (Sonmiani) and Zero Point (starting of coastal highway converging point with RCD highway).
Moreover, there is a need to strengthen the existing customs points on Balochistan coastline. These included customs stations at Ormara, Pasni, Gwadar, and Jewani areas. Sources said the FC, NWFP/Balochistan, Coast Guards, Punjab Rangers and Sindh Rangers are no more empowered to perform customs functions. The customs, being the sole anti-smuggling agency in Balochistan, needs total revamping of the existing organisational structure to combat smuggling.
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