Anti-smuggling organisation (ASO) of collectorate of customs during operation against smugglers/outlaws has seized non-custom duty paid vehicles and foreign origin commodities worth over Rs 40 million during the last 15 days.
According to a spokesman of ASO, the vehicles seized are one each Toyota Corolla car and Toyota Land Cruiser while two Nissan Patrol Safaris. Other seized items are 61,664 yards foreign origin smuggled cloth, 40 blankets, 3,340 kgs betel nuts, 335 kgs black tea, 40 ladies shawls, 150 tobacco tin, 11 TV sets (14"), 700 pieces of extension wire, 2,200 pieces of tricycle locks, 40 pieces of shock absorber, 33 cartons lead pencil.
The spokesman said that the total value of these vehicles and goods comes to Rs 40.989 million. He further said that above seized commodities and vehicles were recovered from 22 smugglers who were also arrested in 24 different cases. Moreover, seven buses and 5 Suzuki pickups have also been taken into custody, as these were being used as carriers for smuggled goods.
Meanwhile, customs staff foiled an attempt to smuggle contraband medicines into country from Saudi Arabia. According to customs officials, three cartons were booked from Saudi Arabia and contents thereof were declared as personal effects. The passenger obtained delivery order from the airline but did not file any baggage declaration form before customs for clearance of said cartons. In fact, an attempt was to be made for clandestine clearance of the same, the officials claimed.
They said that pursuant to a tip off, customs staff of investigation and prosecution branch traced out the said cartons and seized the contraband medicines, valuing Rs 3 million. A criminal case has also been registered against the culprits.
In another case, custom staff exports at dry port Lahore detected a case of misdeclaration of description and value of goods intended to be exported to Spain. Providing details of the case, an official of investigation and prosecution branch said on Friday that M/s Target Leather Expo filed shipping bill at Lahore dry port for export of container of leather jackets, valuing Rs 10.143 million to Spain. When checked, the goods were found to be old and used jackets.
In fact, sole purpose of above misdeclaration was to obtain undue amount of customs rebate as well as refund/adjustment of sales tax, he added. The customs staff has seized these used jackets and criminal case has been registered against the culprits. Investigations in both the cases are in progress.
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