The Collector Model Customs Collectorate Islamabad Asif Hargan has said that the M-14 motorway has become a stronghold of smuggling in which the motorway police is supporting the smugglers.
Talking to Mahsool.net, he said that many other previous collectors including him have been informthe FBR about the smuggling through the Motoway for a long time, but no significant progress has been made in this regard.
Telling the details of seized vehicles and smuggled goods after assuming his charge as Collector Islamabad Asif Hargan said that during month of October 2023 MCC Islamabad seized 23 numbers of cases against smugglers and intercepted 29 vehicles worth above Rs.318 millions including auction of goods and NDP vehicles.
He said that during the month of October, 2023 the Islamabad Customs has detained/seized twenty nine (29) smuggled vehicles, including luxury vehicles.
Hargan further said that the approximate value of seized smuggled vehicles is Rs.118 million. Moreover, twenty three (23) separate operations were conducted on Motorways leading to Islamabad/Rawalpindi from Baluchistan and KP during which huge quantity of smuggled goods including Cloth, Tyres, Cigarettes, Food Items, Steel Coils, Dry Fruits, and Carpets was seized .
The approximate value of these seized goods is around Rs.100 million. The vehicles carrying these smuggled goods have also been seized. Overall the Collectorate made seizures to the tune of Rs.218 million during the whole month the Collector informed.
He said that to thwart smuggling, strict instructions to the Anti Smuggling Organization (ASO) of the Collectorate have been issued to increase vigilance on the illicit movement of smuggled goods.
The Collector said that the Collectorate of Customs, Islamabad during the month of October, 2023 auctioned the 17 vehicles and perishable goods and deposited an amount of Rs. 42.11 million in the National Exchequer.
Asif Hergan said that Islamabad Dryport, during the month of October, 2023 collected Rs. 3201.216 million in shape of duty / taxes by clearing the goods imported by the different importers and cleared by this Collectorate after collection of leviable duty/taxes.
