KARACHI: Customs Anti-Smuggling Organisation, upon a credible information regarding discreet mapping of SITE area Karachi, raided a godown where smuggled goods, mainly betel nuts, were dumped and godown owner was arrested.
Customs Preventive Collector Dr Iftikhar Ahmed, addressing a press conference in his office, said that a successful raid led by Anti Smuggling Organisation Deputy Collector Muhammad Faisal was conducted at Plot No B-9, SITE Area. In this raid 23 tons raw material and 25 twin-packs of betel nuts were recovered. The value of seized items is more than Rs10 million.
The police are said to be investigating the godown owner, Shaikh Amir. He said that during the last 6 months 7 huge operations were carried in which 500 tones of betel nuts were seized.
He said that the Customs Department is playing an important role in overcoming this smuggling. During this year 1 million and 64 thousand litres of smuggled diesel had been seized which avoided a great loss to national treasure. Luxury vehicles along with miscellaneous items worth Rs3.1billion were also seized.
To a question regarding smuggling of mobile phones, Dr Iftikhar Ahmed said that during different operations 63,500 smuggled mobile phones were recovered. He said in 2 huge operations more than 5 tons of drugs were also recovered.