Attempt to smuggle foreign liquor foiled

ISLAMABAD: The Customs Department of Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has foiled an attempt to smuggle a large quantity of foreign liquor through a luxury vehicle.

According to details shared by the FBR on Saturday, acting on information provided by Collector Customs Enforcement Peshawar and under the direction of Deputy Collector Customs, Dera Ismail Khan-II, Customs staff at Aman Meela Check Post intercepted a smuggling attempt involving a luxury vehicle carrying foreign liquor.

At 12:30 pm, Customs staff stopped a vehicle as it approached the check-post. A thorough search of the vehicle led to recovery of a substantial quantity of foreign-origin liquor. Both the recovered liquor and the vehicle were seized under relevant provisions of Customs Act, 1969.

The seized liquor has been valued at around Rs2.4 million, while luxury vehicle used for smuggling is worth Rs8 million, bringing total estimated value of confiscated goods to Rs10.4 million.

Meanwhile, upon intelligence received by the Collectorate of Customs (Enforcement), Karachi, a team from Anti-Smuggling Organisation (ASO), in coordination with Sindh Rangers, conducted a joint operation against illicit trade of smuggled foreign cigarettes, gutka and other contraband goods. The operation targeted shops and godowns near Al-Asif Square, Sohrab Goth, Karachi, resulting in recovery of a large cache of smuggled products.

The seized goods included 8,509 cartons of assorted foreign-brand cigarettes,1,829 packets of assorted foreign-brand gutka, 327 packets of Indian-origin niswar and 92 bottles of Iranian edible oil. The total value of seized goods amounts to Rs32.6 million.