Attempt to smuggle 4,000 kg of betel nut from Balochistan foiled by Karachi customs

Karachi Customs Enforcement successfully foiled an attempt to smuggle 4,000 kg of betel nut from Balochistan to Karachi. The operation was part of an ongoing anti-smuggling campaign carried out by Pakistan Customs on a daily basis, Express News reported.

Acting on a tip-off, customs officials intercepted a truck loaded with hay near the Hamdard checkpoint. During the search, they discovered 4,000 kg of smuggled betel nut hidden within the cargo. The truck, with registration number TKC012, was en route from Balochistan.

According to Collector Customs Basit Abbasi, the seized betel nut was valued at approximately Rs 4 million.

The truck used in the smuggling attempt was impounded, and a case has been registered.

Both the truck and the contraband have been transferred to the Anti-Smuggling Organisation’s warehouse, and an investigation is now underway.

This seizure is part of Karachi Customs' intensified efforts to combat smuggling activities and protect the local economy.

Two days ago, in a major anti-smuggling operation, Customs Intelligence and Investigation intercepted a large consignment of smuggled betel nuts being transported from Baluchistan to Karachi.

The operation, initiated based on intelligence from DG Ali Raza Hanjra, was led by Director I&I Karachi Mian Masood and Additional Director Afzal Wattoo.

The intelligence indicated that a dumper truck would be used to transport the illicit goods into Karachi for illegal sale.

Acting swiftly, Deputy Director Adarsh Jawahiri assembled a team, including Superintendents Zia Moein and Khalid, to monitor the situation.

The team set up surveillance near 4-K Chowrangi, North Karachi, where they intercepted a Hino Dumper Truck (Registration No. TAB-452) at approximately 10:50 AM.

The driver, Abdul Basit Shah, claimed the truck was carrying stone crush, but a quick inspection revealed foreign-origin betel nuts concealed beneath the cargo.

Abdul Basit Shah could not provide any legal documentation for the betel nuts, prompting Customs to seize the truck and its contents under the Customs Act, 1969.

A thorough examination of the truck, conducted in the presence of witnesses, uncovered 410 PP bags containing a total of 4,540 kg of smuggled betel nuts. The goods were transported to the state warehouse in Karachi’s SITE area.

The investigation identified Haji Nasruddin as the owner of the smuggled goods, with Javed Khan managing the operations. An FIR has been lodged, and further investigations are underway to uncover more details about the smuggling network.