QUETTA: The Directorate of Customs Intelligence and Investigation on Tuesday foiled a bid to smuggle betel nuts and Indian gutka worth Rs9 million during special checking on Tuesday.
Sources told Customs Today that Director I&I Muhammad Akram Chaudhary received a tip-off that some smugglers are trying to smuggle betel nuts & Indian gutka out of Quetta.
He constituted a raiding team under the supervision of Inspector Wahaid Raza, Suleman Ghafoor and others. The team enhanced the surveillance on Quetta border and started searching of vehicles.
During the search operation, the team intercepted a passenger bus bearing registration no: NDA-0923 which was going outside of Quetta.
During the checking, the customs team recovered 200 kilogram of betel nut and 5 bundle of Indian gutkha (include Pan Parag and others) worth Rs 9 million including vehicle used in smuggling.
The customs team seized all betel nut and Indian gutka also seized a bus used in smuggling, arrested three smugglers. Sources said that Director Customs Intelligence and Investigation Muhammad Akram Chaudhary appreciated a team who participated in raid.
It is necessary to mention here that on Saturday 21 July Customs Collectorate seized over Rs30 million worth of India origin gutka, betel nuts, niswar, cigarettes, diesel, zinc ingots and non-custom paid (NCP) vehicles.