Islamabad – A colossal smuggling operation at the Sost Dry Port and Baggage section of Gilgit-Baltistan has been thwarted by Pakistan Customs, which confiscated items worth about Rs 157 million (15.7 crore). The confiscated goods covered a wide spectrum of the banned and restricted items, including mobile phones and liquor, and pork.
The act executed by the Customs officers, under the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), is the most recent indicator of how the government takes the danger of smuggling out and ensures the national revenues are safe.
Dry Port Interception
Customs officers, based on sound intelligence, carried out a comprehensive examination of two independent consignments, which had been imported into the country, of Chinese origin. The recovery at the dry port was considerable:
- 59,000 units of Nokia 105 mobile phones, including all essentials such as the battery.
- 5,200 doses of 318 kg medicine packets and 3,000 tablets of Sildenafil Citrate (usually used in the treatment of erectile dysfunction).
- A wide range of components and parts of firearms are also heavily controlled imports.
Prohibited Goods Seized at Baggage Section
In another operation at the baggage counter near Khunjerab pass, the Customs officials apprehended travellers who were trying to bring goods into the country against the strict importation policies in Pakistan.
As a result of this operation, the following was seized:
- 80 bottles of liquor amounting to 20 litres.
- 40 kg of pork.
Commitment to Border Security
All the duties and taxes that had been avoided on all the goods that were seized were estimated to be enormous, Rs 78.5 million. It is undergoing legal proceedings under the Customs Act 1969 against individuals in the smuggling attempt.
According to the statement issued by the FBR, the actions were a clear indication of the determination of the agency to ensure the security of the borders of the nation, to ensure that the domestic industry is not affected by illegal trade, and to ensure that no illegal goods are introduced to the country.
