Armed men snatch truck seized by customs
Trucks carrying goods destined for Afghanistan's second biggest city line up near Chaman, in Pakistan, waiting to cross the border. Traders say they are being taxed by the Taliban as well as Afghan government officials, and also face extortion or robbery from highway bandits. PHOTO: AFP
A case has been registered against armed smugglers who stormed a customs warehouse in Multan, took anti-smuggling squad officials hostage and drove away their truck carrying smuggled cloth worth Rs20 million, which was hidden under coal.
The customs duty due on the cloth is estimated at Rs10 million.
Customs officials have registered a case against 12 people, including the main suspect Atiqullah, and are reportedly carrying out raids to arrest them.
Customs Intelligence Director General Faiz Ahmad Chadhar has instructed his team to support the anti-smuggling squad in action against those involved in the incident.
According to the complainants, a team led by Inspector Ahmed Yar Haraj of Multan Customs Anti-Smuggling Squad stopped and inspected a truck coming from Quetta in the evening of September 19 and discovered smuggled cloth hidden under coal.
Truck driver Moeedullah said he was carrying the cloth from Quetta and Atiqullah, brother of Haji Sadiq, had given it to him.
The team took the truck to the customs warehouse in Multan Industrial Area, but as it was being parked, Atiqullah allegedly ntered the warehouse along with armed men and opened fire. The staff were taken hostage at gunpoint and the attackers topk away the confiscated truck.
The customs authorities have registered a case under the Customs Act against 10 unknown persons, Atiqullah and Moeedullah on the complaint of Inspector Haraj and Warehouse In-charge Bashir Hussain.
The total value of the contraband is stated to be Rs20 million. According to customs sources, Sadiq is on bail in the murder of Deputy Collector Abdul Qadoos in Quetta.
The sources said the big smugglers smuggled large consignments with armed men in one or two vehicles at a safe distance behind the truck or container to resist any attempt to intercept it.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 23rd, 2022.