Directorate of Intelligence & Investigation Inland Revenue (DI&IIR) Karachi on Thursday launched a crackdown against illegal and non-duty paid cigarettes and seized over 50,000 packets of smuggled tobacco.
According to official sources, the team on the directions of Federal Board Revenue (FBR) Chairman and DG, DI&IIR raided several marts located at Defence, Clifton and Bahadurabad areas and confiscated over 50,000 packets of smuggled tobacco worth million of rupees under section 26 of Federal Excise Act, 2005.
They said the team during examination of confiscated illegal and non-duty paid cigarettes came to know that no health warning, retail price and underage sale warning were printed on it, hence violating mandatory requirements of the government rules. Furthermore, the official sources said the contraband cigarettes are being sold at these marts and departmental stores with impunity.
Replying to a question, they said the team inquired from the owner/authorised persons to produce any documentary evidence for payment of Federal Excise Duty levied on these smuggled sticks. But the owner/authorised person remained unable to satisfy the DI&IIR team.
Resultantly, all non-duty paid cigarettes amounting to millions of rupees were seized under section 26 of Federal Excise Act, 2005. They said all regional directorates have been directed to continue the crackdown against illegal and non-duty paid cigarettes unabated till the sale of contraband cigarettes in the mega city comes to halt.
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