Airport shops being used for gold,currency smuggling not closed

LAHORE: The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has given no response to Customs authorities’ request for sealing all shops of an accused facing charges of one of the country’s biggest gold and currency smuggling case, The News has learnt.
The Customs authorities had written a letter to the CAA, Lahore, some three months back for the closure of the shops, but the authority is yet to respond to the request.
According to sources, the Customs authorities, through letter C.No.19-Seiz/I&P/2015/403 dated June 2, 2015, told the Allama Iqbal Airport Lahore manager that they were investigating smuggling of foreign currency worth 1,700 Saudi Riyals, 46,600 UAE Dirhams, 240,000 Euros, 41,000 Swiss Francs (totally amounting to Rs 30.32 million) and 1300 tolas of gold worth Rs 60 million to Dubai, so all shops of Tifi Butt at the airport should be sealed till the probe was final.
“It is also being investigated that the seized currency and gold was delivered to a passenger inside the airport shops through M/S Tofeeq Foods. The name of the owner of the said company is Muhammad Tofeeq s/o Muhammad Siddique (aka Teefi Butt) r/o 6-Montgomery Road, Lahore. He is also one of the accused in the case (FIR 19/2015 dated 20.05.2015).
The Customs authorities requested that to prevent smuggling of currency and gold through these shops and their staff till finalisation of the investigation, the shops including Ramp Worker Canteen, Book Shop at International Departure Lounge, Audio Video and CD Shop at International Departure Lounge, Photocopy Shop in International Briefing Area, Floral Shop at CE Hall Arrival and Medical & Provisional Store at CE Hall and kiosks at Domestic and International Departure Lounges should be sealed.
But, according to a senior Customs official, the CAA has not responded to their request even after three months.
When contacted, Akhtar Mirza, acting airport incharge, said he had no knowledge of any such request as he took charge of office only a couple of days back.
Taufeeq Butt told The News his all shops at the airport were open and working very well.
It is pertinent to mention here that the Customs authorities are investigating a case of smuggling wherein they apprehended Abdul Basit in May 2015 at the Lahore airport when he was trying to smuggle foreign currency and gold to Dubai.
Subsequently, an FIR was registered against Basit, Tofeeq, Nadeem, Tahir and others under Sections 2(s)-16-139-156-(1)(8)(70)-157-178 of the Customs Act 1969 and Section 8 (2) of the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act 1947.
On July 2, 2015, Basit pleaded guilty before a court and was fined Rs 2 million.
Later, the Customs authorities challenged the sentence awarded to Basit in the Lahore High Court. Currently, Taufeeq and other accused are on pre-arrest bail and have joined the investigation.