Gold smuggling suspect arrested

RAWALPINDI:

Humayun Akram, accused of smuggling gold worth Rs1 billion from Pakistan to the UAE, has been arrested by Customs Intelligence while attempting to flee from Sialkot International Airport to the UAE.

Special Customs Court Rawalpindi Judge Tariq Zargam had issued a non-bailable arrest warrant for the accused in the money laundering case.

When caught, the accused allegedly offered millions of rupees to Customs Intelligence to help facilitate his escape, only to be rebuffed and arrested on the spot.

Special Prosecutor Barrister Syed Aun Mohammad Bukhari has filed references of money laundering worth billions of rupees in the Rawalpindi customs court against three known gold smugglers including the accused.

According to the reference, gold worth billions of rupees has been smuggled from Pakistan to UAE by 6,500 gold exporters, and authorities have started registering cases against all the accused.

The reference also states that gold laundering has created a gold crisis in Pakistan, adding that customs clearing agents are also involved in the crime.

Customs Intelligence has also filed references against those who have been importing expensive luxury cars including Prado, Rolls-Royce, Lexus and other costly vehicles from abroad.

 

 

Published in The Express Tribune, December 13^th, 2021.