Further, transporters in the garrison city were angry over the seizure of their trucks and containers. PHOTO: EXPRESS
Staff of the Anti-Smuggling Organisation (ASO), which is part of the Model Customs Collectorate (MCC) of Preventive, seized 26,500 litres of smuggled or non-duty paid Iranian diesel, along with a wooden boat called the Al-Nasiri during an operation at the sea near the coast of Karachi on October 22, disclosed Customs chief collector Zahid Khokhar during a press conference.
"This result-oriented operation was launched pursuant to a tip-off that a wooden fishing boat having been fitted with especially designed tanks would be used for the transportation of smuggled or non-duty paid Iranian diesel from the coast of Pushikan to the coast of Karachi for purpose of delivery."
He said that this seizure of smuggled diesel in the open sea was made by the determined ASO staff with a bare minimum of maritime resources at hand, adding that an FIR has been lodged and seven crew members of the boat have been arrested.
He further said that the MCC Preventive has launched a fresh drive to curb the menace of smuggling of Iranian products and other foreign origin contraband and merchandise mainly arriving from Balochistan through coastal routes.
As a result of the fresh offensive, the ASO MCC Preventive has made sizable seizures of smuggled and non-duty paid Iranian diesel, contraband goods including narcotics, gutka, electronic items, cloth, cigarettes, household items, crockery, perfumes, cosmetics, smuggled and non-duty paid vehicles, conveyances and other merchandise goods worth millions of rupees from April, 2016, to October, 2016.
During the above mentioned period, goods worth Rs3.17 billion have been seized in 101 cases.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 3rd, 2016.
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