Customs foils bid to smuggle luxury items worth Rs9.6m

The recovered items included iPhones, branded bags, watches, and cosmetic products

KARACHI:

Pakistan Customs recovered a huge haul of high-value items, including iPhones, and electronic products, worth Rs9.6 million from the suitcase of a female passenger at the Jinnah Terminal.

The recovered items included four iPhone 15 Pro Max, two Apple MacBooks, 25 branded bags, eight branded watches, and 25 kilograms of branded cosmetic products.

According to the official estimates, duties and taxes amounting to Rs6.6 million are applicable on the confiscated goods.

An amount of Rs3 million is estimated as the duty and taxes only on the four iPhone 15 Pro Max devices confiscated during the checking. The female passenger initially attempted to exit the airport using the Green Channel, but due to suspicions raised by the authorities, her luggage was subjected to a thorough examination.

Preliminary investigation revealed that a passenger, identified as Mehreen Yousuf, had received these items from Dubai-based shippers. These shippers utilised a legitimate female passenger to transport the items through the airport.

Authorities have registered a case under the Customs Act and confiscated the items for further investigation.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, October 25^th, 2023.