ISLAMABAD: The Anti-Smuggling Organization (ASO) Islamabad seized various kinds of 298 smuggling foreign origin mobile phones worth Rs1.5million from a passenger travelling by Toyota Hiace via GT Road Peshawar to Rawalpindi.
According to details explained by sources of ASO Islamabad that, on a tip-off shared by Dr. Saeed Khan Jadoon, Collector Model Customs Collectorate (MCC) Islamabad, the ASO set up a picket on GT Road and intercepted Toyota Hiace with registration No: RIS-4059 which was coming from Peshawar.
The sources told CT that, during a thorough search of the vehicle, ASO squad found 289 ordinary mobile phones and 13 costly Galaxy Android foreign origin mobiles.
Prior to the recovery, the ASO staff asked the possessor of mobiles named Amin Khan s/o Mehmood Khan to show any legal proof of the goods, but he failed to do so.
The ASO staff seized the mobile phones and shifted them to State Ware House. An FIR was registered against the tax evaders and the case forwarded to the Investigation and Prosecution Department for further action.
The Collector MCC Islamabad has said the ASO has adopted an intelligence based system to execute the actions against smugglers and tax evaders.
The item was impounded by Inspector Hafiz Khan and other supporting staff. It may be remembered that the ASO is facing hurdles to take actions against tax evaders and smugglers who travel via Motorway. He complained that the Motorway police do not cooperate with the Customs Department.