LAHORE: A large number of smuggled air-conditioners were seized Tuesday by the customs department’s Lahore anti-smuggling wing.
According to officials, the Lahore office of the department was informed by Collector (preventive) Faiz Ahmad about the movement of smuggled goods in Salamatpura locality near Daroghawal.
Following the information, a team headed by Deputy Collector (enforcement) Moazzam Raza and Superintendent Agha Qadeer Haider intercepted a mini-truck bearing registration LXK-4554 loaded with 17 smuggled indoor AC units and 11 outdoor ones.
The officials seized the appliances and arrested the suspects.
During the preliminary inquiry, it was revealed that that another consignment of foreign ACs was stored in a warehouse owned by M/S Tanveer & Co, in Mohallah Salamatpura near Daroghawala Orange Train station.
Acting on the information, the team raided the warehouse and took the in-charge in custody who claimed the stored stock of ACs was owned by two Karachi-based vendors: M/s Malik & Co and M/s Moon Light.
“The team recovered 1,481 indoor and 1,283 outdoor units of split inverter air-conditioners of assorted models and capacity worth millions,” a spokesman for the department said.
“Smuggling various parts of the ACs from neighbouring countries, the suspects were also involved in affixing logos of famous brands (on smuggled items) and selling them in various markets of Lahore, in Sindh and other areas,” an official told.
A case has been registered against the owner of the warehouse, Majeed Khan and others. Further investigation into the matter is underway.
“It is expected that more people involved in the illegal business would be netted,” the official added.