Customs destroys narcotics, contraband goods

A ceremony to destroy confiscated goods was held by the Model Customs Collectorate of Appraisement-East in Gadap Town on Friday.

The spokesman for the customs said Dr Jawwad Uwais Agha was the chief guest at the ceremony. Surayya Butt, chief collector appraisement, Dr Wasif Ali Memon, chief collector

enforcement, Arsalan Subuctageen, director general, Intellectual Property Organisation, and Dr Nadeem Memon, collector, MCC (Appraisement-East), Karachi, were also present at the event. Dignitaries and representatives of different law enforcement agencies also attended.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Jawwad Uwais Agha, member customs (operations), talked about the role of the customs in safeguarding the commercial borders of the country. He stressed that the Pakistan Customs was working vigorously to root out the menace of smuggling from the society.

He also told the audience that the Pakistan Customs had now been accepted as the lead agency to curb smuggling, and called upon the staff to work dedicatedly for achieving this goal.

Dr Nadeem Memon apprised the audience about the anti-smuggling activities of different customs formations.

He said there were 34 consignments comprising 75 containers not fit for human consumption, expired pesticides and cosmetics, tobacco products, expired seeds and dates and different other products confiscated by MCC (Appraisement-East), Karachi, having worth of Rs211 million.

He further mentioned that the MCC (Appraisement-West), Karachi, confiscated 12 consignments having worth of 56 million of goods imported against violations of import regulations.

Then, there were also narcotics weighing 715 kilograms, including 25.75kgs of heroin, 27kgs of hashish and 650 kgs of crystal, 65,517 bottles of liquor and 72 cases of cans, 756 tons of betel nuts, 19.8 tons of gutka, and 621kgs fo supari and paan masala, and miscellaneous other goods, which were seized by MCC (Preventive), Karachi having value of Rs988 million.

Dr Memon stated that the Directorate General of Intelligence and Investigation-FBR, Karachi, has also seized 240 tons of betel nuts, tobacco weighing 2.5 metric tons, Chinese Salt weighing 4.7 metric tons, 11,095 pieces hormone injections and other goods having overall worth of Rs215 million. The Directorate General of Intellectual Property Rights confiscated 55 different imported and exported consignments having worth of Rs14.87 million in violations of Intellectual Property Rights.

Speaking to media, Dr Jawwad Uwais Agha, said that the customs had been given the task of the major anti-smuggling agency. He added that all departments of the customs have been tasked with special assignments of anti-smuggling at all ports and custom stations.

In this regard, he said, the staff had been provided with the necessary training, logistic support and technological tools to combat the smugglers.