FAISALABAD: Under the supervision of Collector Muhammad Saleem, the Anti Smuggling Organization (ASO) Faisalabad has busted huge quantity of smuggled goods worth millions of rupees in successful raids during first half of September.
Officials said that anti-smuggling teams following the directions of the collector foiled many attempts in the region. They added that the department was working by tooth and nail to achieve the revenue target for the year.
The Anti Smuggling Organisation (ASO) Faisalabad showed outstanding performance as it registered 15 seizure cases during the said period. Inspector Abdul Rehman Butt told Customs Today the mobile squad of ASO Faisalabad made big seizure cases of smuggled goods and impounded offending vehicles.
He said that during the first raid the ASO Faisalabad seized foreign origin smuggled coconut 440 bags worth Rs 4.5 millions involving customs duty and taxes of Rs 3 millions approximately near Godown situated Jhang Road Faisalabad. In second raid ASO seized foreign origin skull 28 bags worth Rs 750000 involving duty and taxes of Rs 450000 near Railway station Faisalabad. ASO seized 64 pieces of smuggled truck tyres worth Rs 350000 involving duty and taxes of Rs 200,000 in third raid.
He added that during fourth raid the ASO seized miscellaneous knitware goods under value of Rs 6 millions involving duty and taxes of Rs 7 millions, with accused person Muhammad Sheikh Sanam nominated. Another five raids, Aso Faisalabad seized 95 bags of smuggled almond weighing 7500 Kgs worth Rs 4.5 millions involving duty and taxes of Rs 1.5 millions in which Noor Muhammad son of Faiz Buskh is nominated.
During the surveillance, ASO Faisalabad raided sixth place and also seized foreign origin 180 tyres worth Rs 1.6 millions involving duty and taxes of Rs 1 million, coming from Quetta train in Faisalabad city. In seventh raid, ASO confiscated non-customs paid Vitz car bearing registration no PK-168 worth Rs 1.5 Million. ASO Faisalabad seized F/O sulfur 50350 kgs worth Rs 2 millions involving duty and taxes of Rs 1.5 millions and registered eight seizure case. Team seized foreign origin blanket cloth 35 rolls and 150 dandas of Indian origin cigarette from passenger bus worth Rs 6 millions involving duty and taxes of Rs 5 millions in ninth raid.
Faisalabad ASO conducted tenth raid and seized 138 rolls of blanket cloth worth Rs 1.5 millions involving duty and taxes of Rs 1 million, seized foreign origin 200 tyres from Quetta passenger train worth Rs 2 millions involving duty and taxes of Rs 1 million in eleventh raid.
During the said period, the department registered twelfth seizure case and impounded foreign origin Rani juice 150 crates worth Rs 5 lac involving duty and taxes of Rs 4 Lac. In 14th raid, ASO seized smuggled cashew 300 kgs worth Rs 1.2 millions. ASO Faisalabad conducted cloves 500 kgs worth Rs 1.75 millions and registered a 15th case against culprit.
The recovered contraband goods have been taken into the custody and the cases have been registered against the heinous crime whereas further investigations are underway. All these items were brought into the country without payment of custom duty and taxes.
It is pertinent to mention that Collector Muhammad Saleem formed special team on the basis of certain information which comprised Inspectors Abdul Rehman Butt, Mahmood Tipu, Khalid Gujjar, Asghar Zaheer and sepoy Rao Ibrar, Muhammad Shafi, Muhammad Tanveer, Muhammad Sohail, Muhammad Saeed and others to take action against smuggled goods.
Hailing the performance of the Anti Smuggling Organization (AS0), Collector Muhammad Saleem directed the officers to further gear up the action against the smugglers to curb the smuggling from the country.