Model Customs Collectorate (MCC), Preventive on Wednesday claimed to have seized around 26,500 litres of smuggled Iranian diesel near the coast of Karachi. This was stated by Chief Collector Muhammad Zahid Khokar along with Collector Preventive Saifuddin Junejo at a press conference held at East Wharf here.
He said action was taken on a tip-off, which revealed that some unscrupulous elements were planning to transport huge quantity of smuggled Iranian diesel to Karachi in a wooden fishing boat.
On being informed by the stoolie, the team of Anti Smuggling Organisation (ASO) of MCC Preventive has started monitoring of wooden fishing boat sailing on the mentioned sea route. After strict vigilance, the team has spotted a wooden fishing boat on October 22, 2016.
Khokar said that team after thorough examination of the boat succeeded to recover unprecedented quantity of smuggled Iranian diesel in its independent operation and termed it as historic seizure of smuggled diesel in an open sea.
Moreover, he further informed that MCC Preventive had also kicked off drive against the smuggled diesel and other foreign origin contraband merchandise, arriving from Balochistan and other coastal routes.
He said MCC Preventive during this drive had so far made over a hundred seizures worth Rs 316.53 million since April 2016.
The seizures include smuggled diesel, narcotics, chewing tobaccos, electronic items, cosmetics, smuggled vehicles, cigarettes, cloths, household items, etc.
Consequent upon the seizures, the legal proceedings have been initiated in these cases and further investigation was under way.