Customs raid: 80 pilgrims arrested, Iranian goods seized
Officials recovered carpets, sweaters, dry fruit, medicines, plastic rollers and auto parts
QUETTA:
Officials of Pakistan Customs have seized smuggled Iranian goods and arrested 80 Shia pilgrims, including five alleged smugglers from Marriabad suburbs of Quetta, Assistant Deputy Collector Customs Wahid Qambrani told the media on Monday. Although there was no contraband item, the official said they had recovered carpets, sweaters, dry fruit, medicines, plastic rollers and auto parts from the people who had just returned from Iran after visiting holy places. “The smuggled goods had been brought in to the city in a big convoy of 20 buses of zaereen (pilgrims) on Sunday night. The smuggled goods are worth millions of rupees in the local market,” he said. “We had prior information, but carried out the raid after thorough confirmation,” Qambrani said. The arrested persons are in custom’s custody and being investigated, he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 22nd, 2015.
Officials of Pakistan Customs have seized smuggled Iranian goods and arrested 80 Shia pilgrims, including five alleged smugglers from Marriabad suburbs of Quetta, Assistant Deputy Collector Customs Wahid Qambrani told the media on Monday. Although there was no contraband item, the official said they had recovered carpets, sweaters, dry fruit, medicines, plastic rollers and auto parts from the people who had just returned from Iran after visiting holy places. “The smuggled goods had been brought in to the city in a big convoy of 20 buses of zaereen (pilgrims) on Sunday night. The smuggled goods are worth millions of rupees in the local market,” he said. “We had prior information, but carried out the raid after thorough confirmation,” Qambrani said. The arrested persons are in custom’s custody and being investigated, he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 22nd, 2015.