Police launch operation against smuggled cigarettes

The Lahore police on Saturday started operation against smuggled cigarettes and raided various retailers involved in sale of Pine and other brands.
According to police sources, the inspector general (IG) has issued instructions to all regional police officers to curb the menace of sale of smuggled cigarettes in their precincts. In this regard, the police raided various areas of the city and seized smuggled cigarettes and registered FIRs against people involved in the illegal trade.
In an operation conducted in Allama Iqbal Town, police raided Riaz Cigarette Shop, Moon Market, a known dealer of smuggled cigarettes and seized massive quantities of smuggled cigarettes. According to police sources, an FIR has been registered against the shop owner.
In Township, police raided Madina Traders and Shera Cigarette and Pan Shop in Madina Market and seized smuggled cigarettes, including Korean brand. Police registered an FIR against smugglers Muhammad Qasim and Talat Mehmood.
In Nawab Town, police raided various superstores and seized huge quantity of sheesha flavours and smuggled cigarette brands. Cases have been registered against Abdul Basir, Naseem Shah and Muhammad Asad under violation of health warning regulations.
In Green Town, police seized smuggled cigarettes and registered an FIR against smuggler Muhammad Islam.
According to a senior police officer, the IG has recently issued directions to take action against smuggled cigarettes, including the Korean brands, which are being sold openly in the domestic market in open violation of applicable laws.
According to laws, the mandatory pictorial and textual health warning in Urdu and English as well as printing of underage (under 18) sale warning and retail price on each pack is mandatory for cigarettes packs to be sold in Pakistan. But smuggled cigarettes do not comply with any of these mandatory requirements and evade duties and taxes to the government.
A source in the Federal Board of Revenue said that despite efforts by the government, the smuggling of Korean and other cigarettes had increased due to which the government had suffered losses. He also said that if the sale of smuggled cigarettes was curbed, it could result in addition of billions of rupees to the national exchequer. He also said the penalties for the sale of smuggled cigarettes include confiscation of such brands, fine up to Rs 50,000, recovery equal to 500 percent of unpaid taxes and imprisonment up to five years.