WATCH: Cellphone smuggler rips customs official's uniform at Islamabad airport

Suspect tries to flee scene but authorities grab him in his tracks

ISLAMABAD: A suspected mobile smuggler has been arrested for manhandling a customs official after being caught red-handed at the New Islamabad International Airport on Monday.

CCTV footage of the incident was ascertained by The Express Tribune, which shows that during checking of a passenger's luggage, identified as Vaqas, authorities found multiple cellphones he was trying to smuggle.

Upon finding the contraband, he tried to flee but custom officials managed to grab him after he tore an officer's uniform in a scuffle.

The suspect had arrived in Islamabad on an international airline.

Authorities have now registered a case against the suspect with an investigation underway.





In a major policy shift, Minister of State for Revenue Hammad Azhar has announced that those travelling to Pakistan will be allowed to bring in only one cellphone per year free of customs duty as per the personal baggage rules.

While a maximum of five smart phones can be brought under the new regulations in a year. However, customs duty will have to be paid on the extra four handsets to require service in Pakistan beyond 30 days.

On November 24, the federal minister had written on the microblogging website, Twitter, saying: “The cabinet has decided that mobile phones sold after 1st December 2018 that are not custom duty paid (i.e. smuggled) will be deactivated by PTA after a lapse of 30 days.”

The cabinet has decided that mobile phones sold after 1st Dec 2018 that are not custom duty paid (i.e. smuggled) will be deactivated by PTA after a lapse of 30 days. Phones currently in use or activated before 1st Dec will not be effected or require any registration. 1/2

— Hammad Azhar (@Hammad_Azhar) November 24, 2018