Customs seizes contraband items worth Rs 140m

By Salis bin Perwaiz
April 26, 2025
Representational image shows personnel of the Pakistan Customs. — Facebook@Pakistan Customs/File
Representational image shows personnel of the Pakistan Customs. — Facebook@Pakistan Customs/File

The Customs Enforcement Collectorate Karachi has seized contraband items worth Rs140 million.

Syed Irfan Ali, a spokesman for the customs, said Collector Customs Enforcement Moinuddin Ahmed Wani received confidential information that various types of goods would be smuggled through misdeclaration under the EFS scheme through the Green Channel of Customs.

On this information, Wani issued orders to the additional collector customs enforcement to prevent this possible smuggling. In light of these orders, the additional collector and Anti-Smuggling Organization directed the staff of the Anti-Smuggling Organization to clear the customs from QICT. Orders were issued for special monitoring of containers.

A 40-foot container, number GESU6619384 of M/s Domestic Industries, Malaysia, was imported from Qasim International Container Terminal (PMBQ) Port Muhammad Bin Qasim, under the Export Facilitation Scheme with Goods Declaration Number Kppi-Fs-57051, which contained 81,950 kilograms of aluminium foil scrap, which was cleared through the Green Channel of Customs.

The ASO staff seized the container and took it to their warehouse where an examination led to the recovery itemswhich had been imported under the guise of aluminium scrap.

The seized items are Commercial Grade Aluminium Foil, Medical equipment, E-cigarettes, Vape flavours and Lithium batteries. The total value of the goods is Rs140 million. A case has been registered under the relevant sections of the Customs Act.

In a separate raid, carried out on Thursday night at a warehouse located in Boulton Market, a team seized a huge quantity of smuggled cigarettes, 16,470 sticks, Indian Gutka and Naswar 5,850 packets, Shisha flour 4.2 liters, and 510 kilograms of soap in its custody. The initial estimated value of the seized items is Rs46.8 million.

The seized items were loaded on 6 Mazda trucks and subjected to detailed examination and transferred to the ASO warehouse for inspection. A case has been registered under the Customs Act.