KARACHI: A Collectorate of Customs Preventive team seized huge quantity of smuggled betel nuts weighting 2070 kilograms and Indian-origin gutka weighting 785 kilograms worth millions of rupees in a successful raid conducted at Super Highway.
According to the details, on the tip-off, Customs Preventive Deputy Collector Muhammad Faisal constituted a team to beef up the security and surveillance at the entry and exit points of the city against the illegal activities of the smugglers.
The Anti-Smuggling Organization (ASO) team checked several vehicles at the Northern bypass near Super Highway and followed the procedure of customs to inquire regarding the legal documents and carried out the search of all kind of luggage carrier.
During the search a passenger bus which was named “Shandar Royal Cruiser” bearing registration no: BSB-03 was intercepted and the team of Customs ASO conducted complete search of the vehicle.
During the search, it was noticed that the bus has no seats for the passenger and it was specially designed for the purpose of contraband goods smuggling. Several bags of smuggled betel nuts and Indian gutka were found. All the bags were discharged from the said passenger bus and counting was conducted.
The team along with Deputy Collector Muhammad Faisal calculated the recovered bags containing 3,880 packets having 392,840 pouches of assorted Indian gutka weighting seven hundred and eighty five kilograms worth Rs5,892,860 in the market. On the other hand, smuggled betel nuts weighting 2,070 kilograms worth Rs550,620 were also recovered. Total value of seized goods is worth Rs6,443,480. A case has been filed whereas two culprits were also apprehended from the spot.