Police, customs at odds over seizures
Bundles containing illicit drugs seized by local police from a storeroom in a residential unit in Singapore are pictured in this handout image taken April 16, 2021. Central Narcotics Bureau Singapore/Handout via REUTERS
Mianwali, bordered by four districts of Khyber PakhtunkhwaDera Ismail Khan, Lakki Marwat, Bannu, and Kohatremains a critical area for security and anti-smuggling operations.
As a gateway to Punjab, it serves as a prime target for terrorists and smugglers entering Pakistan. The only barriers to illegal entry are the Jinnah and Chashma Barrages, where police, customs, and other agencies have established check posts to control the flow of goods and individuals into Punjab.
A recent police operation, initiated based on a tip-off, has sparked controversy after the seizure of 2,700kg (44 bundles) of non-customs paid (NCP) cloth, valued at approximately Rs4.5 million according to Pakistan Customs estimates.
The operation, carried out by the Kalabagh Police Station, resulted in an FIR under the Customs Act and other sections, with the NCP cloth being seized.
However, the police did not allow Pakistan Customs officers to take action or claim the seized goods, leading to a dispute between customs officials and the Station House Officer (SHO) of Kalabagh Police Station.
Fahim Zafar, a Pakistan Customs Officer, expressed concerns that the police's unilateral action at Jinnah Barrage, bypassing customs officers, resulted in a loss of Rs3 million in duties to the government and caused significant damage to the national exchequer.
The failure to coordinate with customs authorities has fuelled tensions between the two agencies.
The dispute further escalated when a Customs operational team, during a routine patrol, pursued and found a non-customs paid Toyota Corolla Fielder near Tarbaza Town, Bannu Road, in Mianwali City.
The vehicle was discovered in the custody of the SHO Police Station Kalabagh, who had seized it under Section 550 and was using it personally. However, Saddar Police Station intervened, forcibly took possession of the vehicle, and registered an FIR against the Customs Incharge and staff.
Social activist Alamgir Khan highlighted that the ongoing tension has rendered both Customs check posts non-functional, with staff feeling increasingly insecure.
He urged the authorities to improve coordination between the police and customs to ensure effective operations against smuggling and other illegal activities.
It has also been revealed that Fahim, an Inspector with Pakistan Customs, and Muhammad Shoaib, the SHO of Police Station Kalabagh, had been operating a joint check post at Jinnah Barrage, located within the limits of Kalabagh Police Station, Issa Khel Tehsil, Mianwali District.
The breakdown in cooperation between these two key agencies has raised concerns about the effectiveness of anti-smuggling operations in the region.