By Our Correspondent
FAISALABAD: In a major operation, Customs officials at Faisalabad International Airport successfully intercepted a large consignment of smuggled goods worth millions of rupees.
Read also: Customs foils currency smuggling bid at Multan Airport
The action was taken on the directives of Collector Customs Tayyaba Kiyani, under the supervision of Additional Collector Ali Akbar Zaidi.
A specialized team led by Assistant Collector Shehzad Ali, along with Superintendent Zahid Mahmood and other officials, carried out the operation.
The crackdown targeted passengers arriving on flight FZ-391 from Dubai.
Three passengers were found carrying a substantial quantity of high-value electronic gadgets and contraband items.
The recovered goods included expensive mobile phones, Indian-origin Pan Masala, Trident bubble gum, and electric vape liquids.
According to the details, the first recovery memo included nine iPhone 13 (128GB) in used condition without boxes, one iPhone 14 in used condition without a box, and five Google Android used phones. Additionally, 34 boxes of Indian-origin Pan Masala, each weighing 500 grams, and eight boxes of Indian-origin Pan Masala, each weighing 1000 grams, were confiscated.
Three Apple AirPods and ten packets of Trident bubble gum were also seized. The estimated total value of this recovery was Rs. 2,095,000, with duty and taxes amounting to Rs. 906,000.
The second recovery memo included three iPhone 16 devices that were SIM-locked, four iPhone 14 devices in used condition without boxes, and three iPhone 13 devices in used condition. Additionally, 23 boxes of Indian-origin Pan Masala, each weighing 500 grams, and 13 boxes of Indian-origin Pan Masala, each weighing 1000 grams, were seized. Customs officials also recovered 400 electric vape liquids and six packets of Trident bubble gum. The estimated value of this seizure was Rs2,070,000.
The third recovery memo included six iPhone 14 (128GB) devices in used condition without boxes, eight iPhone 13 devices in used condition without boxes, and one Google Android used phone. Customs officials also confiscated 35 boxes of Indian-origin Pan Masala, each weighing 500 grams, and nine boxes of Indian-origin Pan Masala, each weighing 1000 grams. Additionally, six packets of Trident bubble gum were recovered. The estimated value of this seizure was Rs2,496,000, with duty and taxes amounting to Rs835,000.
In total, the Customs authorities seized 40 mobile phones, 1200 pieces of electric vape liquid, 92 boxes of Indian-origin Pan Masala (500 grams per box), 30 boxes of Indian-origin Pan Masala (1000 grams per box), 22 packets of Trident bubble gum, and three Apple AirPods. Customs authorities have initiated further investigations to trace the smuggling network and identify any potential accomplices. The operation underscores the continued efforts of Customs enforcement to curb illegal trade and protect the country’s economy from revenue losses. Authorities have reiterated their commitment to strengthening border controls and intensifying scrutiny of incoming passengers to prevent smuggling attempts in the future.
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