Taking serious note of increase in smuggling of foreign currency, the Central Board of Revenue (CBR) has launched a comprehensive plan to check illicit trade of currency, compact discs (CDs), narcotics and live animals/birds at the international airports. The plan also envisages measures to control transportation of smuggled cargo through different airlines. Moreover, the CBR has also ordered exemplary punishment to the custom officials allegedly helping smugglers to sneak through the airports security checks.
Sources told Business Recorder here on Sunday that the CBR has issued instructions to all the airports to implement the new plan without delay.
The CBR has directed all collectors that smuggling of currency and recorded CDs from Pakistan is on constant rise. Increasing seizure of narcotics has also been witnessed at the airports.
There are also reports that transportation of smuggled items is also rampant through booking by air through airlines.
The customs at the airports should make all out efforts to plug this phenomenon, stopping the smuggling of currency, recorded pirated CDs and narcotics.
The CBR has asked the collectors to take stern action against the staff found involved in such cases under Section 156 (punishments to custom officers) of the Customs Act, 1969.
The collectors should immediately post comparatively honest and efficient staff in civil dress on the scanning machines operated by Airport Security Force (ASF) in order to check the transportation of smuggled goods on the internal flights as well as flights for foreign countries.
The customs at the airports should also make special efforts to stop the smuggling of live animals/birds by having a close liaison with the staff of airlines as live animals/birds can be transported by providing oxygen in the cargo cabin under a special arrangement/direction to the pilot.
The CBR has issued instructions to collectors to take seriously the reports of M/s Phillips regarding negligence/connivance of Customs staff and taking stern action against the delinquent staff under intimation to the CBR, sources added.