Huge cache of smuggled dry fruits recovered

Colossal recovery of trafficked goods from Afghanistan raises eyebrows on Customs’ competence

RAWALPINDI:

A team of Customs Intelligence, Islamabad raided warehouses in Ganj Mandi, Ratta Amral, and other areas of the garrison city and found suspected smuggled dry fruits and other commodities worth millions of rupees from Afghanistan.

How a large amount of smuggled dried fruit allegedly made its way to Rawalpindi in such large numbers raised doubts about the competence of Pakistan Customs.

According to sources, the Customs Intelligence team allegedly carried out late-night raids on several warehouses in Sharbat Gali and adjacent areas at the intersection of the Ganj Mandi and Rata Amral limits.

During this time, the police, dolphin force and other law enforcement organisations assisted the Customs Intelligence.

The team conducted a late-night operation on a tip-off and smuggled dried fruits and other commodities, including cashew nuts, almonds, walnuts, American almonds, and other items worth millions of rupees, were confiscated.

Over 20 truckloads of goods were transported to the Customs Intelligence warehouse during the operation, which lasted until Wednesday morning.

Sources said serious doubts have been raised about how the commodities arrive in Rawalpindi and get dumped when the Customs and Customs Intelligence teams are conducting anti-smuggling operations at the borders and other locations.

According to Customs sources, the management of the warehouses was unable to provide any legal documentation at the time.

The Customs Intelligence will release the commodities when the process is over if the general description (GD) of the confiscated products is submitted, the sources added. “Otherwise, the Customs Intelligence will carry out the legal action per the law.”

The Express Tribune attempted to get in touch with the Director and Deputy Director of Customs Intelligence in this regard, but they did not respond. However, a senior officer confirmed that raids had been carried out and legal action was taken.

When this scribe contacted the Central Association of Traders Rawalpindi President Shahid Ghafoor Pracha, and Raja Jamil, president of Rawalpindi Dry Fruit Union, an association of traders of various markets, including Ganj Mandi Bazaar, they said, “No traders from Rawalpindi own the warehouses that were raided and nor are any Rawalpindi traders associated with the trafficked goods.”

“The goods of people belonging to Peshawar are kept in the warehouses,” Jamil said.

“We checked and found that each carton is kept at a weekly rent of Rs150 in these warehouses,” he added. “Now it is the duty of the warehousemen or the owners of these goods to tell whether the goods have been imported legally or not.”

On the other hand, the citizens say that there are a lot of smuggled goods being sold out in various markets of the twin cities.

“Imported cigarettes are also being sold here while the elements associated with the business have set up several warehouses in Chah Sultan, Raja Bazar, Pirwadhai and other areas within the city where the goods are dumped and sold further,” they said.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, May 4^th, 2023.