Quetta's MCC conduct crackdown against fuel smugglers

Officials seize 7,500 litres of diesel; shut down eight illegal pumps

QUETTA: The Model Customs Collectorate (MCC) Quetta conducted a crackdown against Iranian patrol smugglers at various illegal patrol pumps along the Jaffarabad-Jacobabad Highway and seized more than 7,500 litres of Iranian diesel while also shutting down eight illegal pumps.

Following the crackdown, owners of the pumps along with a large number of people gathered on the highway and staged a protest. They burnt tires and pelted stones at the customs staff thus blocking the highway for traffic.

Consequently, the customs officials lodged a first information report (FIR) against the owners of the illegal patrol pumps who were found selling low quality diesel and patrol products derived the smuggled Iranian oil.

“The low quality oil can be disastrous for the vehicles using it and can not only cause damage to their parts but also result in untoward incidents,” said the officials.

Chief Collector Balochistan Customs Dr Zulfiqar Ali Chaudhary received information regarding the smuggling of illegal diesel and functioning of illegal pumps on the main highway between Jaffarabad- Jacobabad areas.  He immediately passed directions to Collector of Customs Quetta Iftikhar Ahmed and Collector Hyderabad Khalid Jamali.

On the information, a team of the customs department under the supervision of Additional Collector Quetta Jameel  Baloch comprising Deputy Collector Preventive Kaleemullah Wagun and Assistant Collector Akmal Durrani conducted raids on the highway in different areas seized 7,500 litres of diesel and seized more than a dozen illegal patrol pumps.