FAISALABAD: The Directorate of Customs Intelligence and Investigation in a successful operation has recovered huge quantity of smuggled mobiles including Samsung Galaxy, Huawei Smart phone, Redmi MI Smart phone, Vivo brand, Oppo and Nokia brand worth Rs20.6 million.
According to details, team of Customs Intelligence on information of Director Muhammad Akram Chaudhary and intercepted a TCS Delivery Van bearing registration no: LES-14-338 near Guttwala Toll Plaza and the accused driver namely Pervaiz Iqbal produced transit manifesto of the loaded cargo.
The van was escorted to the office of Customs Intelligence & Investigation for detailed search. Whereas, its thorough search was conducted in presence of driver, Security incharge of M/s TCS Faisalabad and other witnesses which led to the recovery of foreign origin mobiles phones of different brands and models. Minute scrutiny of the consignment from TCS van revealed that 823 pieces of costly Smuggled mobile in which Samsung phones of 150 pieces, Huawei Smart phones 403 pieces, Redmi MI Smart phones 75 pieces, Vivo brand phones 120 pieces, Oppo and Nokia brand 75 pieces were to be delivered to different destinations through TCS courier service.
It further came to light that all these mobiles were illegally smuggled in to the country without payment of duties and taxes as no valid document of its legal import were made available. The team of Customs Intelligence participating in the operation under the supervision of Superintendent Muhammad Tahir comprising Senior Intelligence Officer Mansoor Nasir and Sepoys Ajmal Hussain Muhammad Musaddiq Ahmad and others conducted operations to foil smuggling bids in Faisalabad.
Further legal formalities with reference to seizure and prosecution are underway as required under the Customs Act 1969. In response to a query Director Customs Intelligence Muhammad Akram Choudhary confirmed the recovery of smuggled items. He added Such operation is expected to be carried out in future also he concluded. Director further told that TCS in a communication have denied their involvement in the case, however, all legal aspects in this regard are being examined to proceed in accordance with law.