FIA arrests two Customs officials at Karachi airport over corruption

Customs officers Tariq Mehmood and Yawar Abbas, who “went missing” a week ago, were arrested by the FIA Anti-Corruption Circle at the Karachi airport as they attempted to board an Islamabad-bound flight of a commercial airline.

The FIA Anti-Corruption Circle has filed a case against both officers, accusing them of involvement in a significant corruption scandal within the Customs Department. FIA officials claim that the accused, along with several other Customs officers, were receiving substantial amounts of money from smuggling syndicates.

According to the FIR, the arrest took place when Mehmood and Abbas were intercepted at the Jinnah terminal while attempting to flee to Islamabad. Mehmood currently holds the position of Superintendent of Anti-Smuggling Organisation in Ghas Bandar, Keamari, while Abbas serves as Superintendent of Operations in the Anti-Smuggling Directorate and Intelligence and Investigation.

During the investigation, a search of the accused individuals' vehicle, which bore an official number plate and was parked in the airport’s parking area, led to the discovery of a huge amount of local and foreign currencies, including Rs5 million, $2,500, and 6,100 UAE dirhams. The accused confessed that the money was intended to be distributed among Customs officers posted in various positions.

The accused admitted to collecting an estimated Rs40 to 50 million as “speed money” from locations such as Mochko, Mawach Goth, Sohrab Goth, and Ghaghar Phatak. This illicit funding was provided in exchange for aiding and abetting the smuggling operations.

Additionally, a monthly collection of approximately Rs60 million was reported, specifically related to facilitating the smuggling of betel nuts. The smugglers were able to transport their illicit consignments to Karachi via organised land routes in Balochistan.

The accused alleged that in 2020, Saqif Saeed assumed the role of director in the Anti-Smuggling Organisation and orchestrated an extensive smuggling network. He enlisted trusted associates to collect bribes from various smugglers.

After Saeed's tenure expired, Usman Bajwa took charge as Director of Anti-Smuggling Organisation, and ensured continued facilitation of the smuggling network in exchange for substantial bribes. This operation yielded an estimated monthly income of around Rs100 million.

In February 2023, Amir Theam assumed the position of Director of Anti-Smuggling Organisation and extended protection to betel nut smugglers and other miscellaneous items.

Mehmood, one of the accused, revealed that a person named Imran was actively operating a betel nut smuggling network from the border areas of Balochistan, supplying the smuggled betel nuts to consumers and buyers.