Customs destroy smuggled goods worth Rs2.5b

KARACHI:

Pakistan Customs has destroyed Rs.2.5 billion worth of smuggled and contraband items after a gap of two years.

Addressing a function in this regard, Chief Collector Customs Enforcement Qadir Memon said that smuggling is economic terrorism which is destroying the industry while its proceeds are being used for terrorism. He said that the properties of the elements involved in the smuggling would be confiscated. The main reason for smuggling is tax evasion.

He claimed that 80 per cent share in anti-trafficking belongs to Pakistan Customs. “There are three smuggling routes in Sindh. Items are smuggled from Iran and Afghanistan through Balochistan and through the South Belt from the United Arab Emirates by sea while smuggling is carried out from the ports of Karachi through miss declaration and miss classification. He said that smuggling in Sindh would be curbed in any case.

Read More: Crackdown intensified against smuggled petroleum products

The anti-smuggling campaign will continue on the intelligence received by the secret network of customs.

Collector Customs Enforcement Feroz Alam Junejo said that the Department of Customs was destroying the smuggled and illicit goods after a gap of two years due to the coronavirus pandemic, though it was necessary to dispose of the illicit and smuggled goods every six months.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 30^th, 2021.