FAISALABAD: Directorate of Custom Intelligence and Investigation has seized huge quantity of betel nuts worth Rs100 million.
Deputy Director Rana Irfan Shouqat told Customs Today that he received credible information from his source that huge quantity of contraband items would be smuggled through jurisdiction. He immediately alerted the Superintendent Muhammad Tahir Iqbal to enhance monitoring of suspected routes to foil any bid of smuggling in the region.
Customs Intelligence formed special team including Intelligence Officer Saeed Hayat, Ansar Saleemi Muhammad Arshad and others to take action against smuggled goods. Following the directions, the team intercepted a 22 wheeler trailer bearing registration no: TLB-687 near Pir Mehal Interchange.
The intelligence team recovered 298 bags weighing 26050 kilograms of betel nuts in their action. During investigations the driver of the vehicle introduced namely Syed Abdul Sadiq district Kurram Agency was coming from Quetta and its final destination was Faisalabad. Truck driver presented booking receipt of said goods to Customs Intelligence staff. Customs Intelligence seized the entire betel nuts and shifted the betel nuts along with truck to Customs Intelligence State Warehouse Faisalabad.
The Customs Intelligence seized the goods under Customs Act 1969 and further investigations regarding the betel nuts are still under process.