LAHORE: Customs Intelligence and Investigation Lahore has seized nine tons of copper tubes worth Rs 20 million from Temple Road Lahore, sources said.
The sources informed that on secret information the Customs authorities raided a godown and recovered nine tons of copper tube which were imported illegally in the city.
The sources said that the copper tubes were tactfully hidden in fruit boxes at the godown. The sources said that the customs authorities took extraordinary vigilance on the illegally dumped copper.
They added that for about 10 days the customs authorities spied and took extraordinary care in raiding the godown. It was said that the copper tubes were smuggled from Quetta to Lahore by one Sharif who is a well-known traders at the Temple Road.
The sources said that initially the customs authorities had to face intense resistance however, with the help of local union of traders and police, the authorities succeeded to seize the copper.
It was added that the copper belongs to high quality of the copper and is estimated at Rs20 million.
The sources said that the operation against the smugglers was conducted on the directions of Customs I&I Additional Director Usman Bajwa. The operation was supervised by Customs I&I Superintendent Malik Yasin while other customs officials including Malik Amjad and others.
It was informed that the customs team has transported all the copper loaded in trucks at the Customs Warehouse in Allama Iqbal Town. The sources said that Customs authorities confiscating the whole of copper tubes has registered a case against the party and started further investigations.