FC foils attempt to smuggle sugar

Paramilitary force thwarts two separate bids to illegally take 210.35 metric tons into Afghanistan

ISLAMABAD:

The Frontier Corps Balochistan (North) thwarted two separate attempts to smuggle 210.35 metric tons of sugar into Afghanistan in Sheikh Wasil, a suburb of Mastung, between August 12 and 23.

The sugar was concealed in 31 vehicles but the paramilitary force stepped into action just in time based on intelligence reports.

The entire shipment of sugar was seized and handed over to the customs authorities.

Read Taxman moves to combat smuggling

The FC Balochistan (North) foiled the smuggling of various illegal items in different areas of the province during the year 2023.

The items being smuggled included 2,253 metric tons of sugar, 1,307 metric tons of wheat, 2,061 metric tons of fertilisers, and 3.1 metric tons of narcotics.

These operations were carried out in different areas of Balochistan including Zhob, Pishin, Mastung, Nushki, and Chaman.

The smuggling of sugar and other goods harms the country's economy.

Read more Crackdown on sugar smuggling launched

The smuggled goods disappear in local markets and are not available for the country’s people to use.

The FC Balochistan (North) pledged to continue taking effective actions to prevent smuggling. It also vowed to bring the people, who harmed the country's economy, to a decisive end.

In May this year, then Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed the relevant authorities to take strict action against the smugglers of wheat, sugar and urea, as it was adversely impacting Pakistan’s foreign remittances and usurping the rights of the country’s people.