The Model Customs Collectorate, Islamabad on Tuesday made a major seizure of 11400 kg of betel nuts and different brands of foreign cigarettes having total value of Rs 29 million. In pursuance of Federal Board of Revenue’s Policy to increase emphasis on Anti-Smuggling activity, Model Customs Collectorate, Islamabad has accelerated its enforcement efforts to control the menace of smuggling.
In a fresh bid to frustrate attempt of smuggling of huge contrabands, the Anti-Smuggling Cell on special instructions of Ms Seema Raza Bokhari, Collector Customs, Model Customs Collectorate, Islamabad under supervision of Muhammad Ashfaq, Additional Collector (HQ), and personally led by Rao Fahd Iqbal Khan, Assistant Collector conducted raid and effected huge seizure of contrabands / smuggled goods worth Rs 29 million on 08.06.2019 in Nankari Bazar (Raja Bazar), Rawalpindi. The seized goods included 11,400 kgs of Betel Nuts and 1190 sleeves of Cigarettes.
The goods have been deposited at the State Ware House, G-12, Islamabad. FIR has been registered. Moreover, investigation is being carried out to ascertain further links in the chain of smuggling. The Collector, Model Customs Collectorate, Islamabad appreciated the special efforts made by newly posted Assistant Collector Rao Fahd Iqbal Khan for his performance in this case within one month of his posting. The Collector praised the team effort made by staff including concerned Superintendents / Inspectors and Sepoys.
Seizure of betel nuts is important as it is detrimental to health and major cause of cancer of mouth and esophagus, as betel nut has been classified as carcinogen by World Health Organization (WHO). While lauding the team’s efforts, the Collector Customs Seema Raza Bukhari stressed that Model Customs Collectorate, Islamabad should continue to ramp up Anti-Smuggling activity and hoped that such enforcement efforts will continue to bear fruit in future as well.
