By Our Correspondent
LAHORE: The Collectorate of Customs Enforcement (CoC) Lahore conducted a major raid near Rehman Garden in the Saggian area of Lahore and seized a huge quantity of allegedly smuggled foreign-origin goods worth approximately Rs42 million, officials said on Friday.
According to customs authorities, the operation was launched after the department received credible information regarding the storage of smuggled goods at a warehouse in the area. Acting swiftly on the tip-off, a special enforcement team raided the godown and recovered a large quantity of electronic items and household products believed to have been smuggled into the country illegally.
Among the seized items were digital air fryers and insect killers of Chinese origin. Officials stated that the goods were being stored in the warehouse without any legal documentation or proof of lawful import.
During the raid, the caretakers present at the godown failed to produce valid customs clearance documents, import records, or any other legal paperwork required under Pakistani customs laws. Following the recovery, customs officials took the goods into custody and initiated legal proceedings against those involved.
The value of the confiscated goods has been estimated at around Rs42 million, making it one of the significant anti-smuggling operations carried out in Lahore in recent weeks.
Customs authorities said the crackdown was conducted under the directions of Collector Customs Enforcement Agha Saeed and under the supervision of Naveed Ur Rehman Bagvi. Officials reiterated their commitment to continuing strict action against smuggling networks and illegal trade activities that negatively affect the national economy and legitimate businesses.
A customs spokesperson said anti-smuggling drives are being intensified across different parts of Punjab to curb the illegal movement and storage of foreign-origin goods. The spokesperson added that such activities cause substantial losses to the national exchequer and create unfair competition for legally imported products in local markets.
Authorities said investigations are underway to identify the owners of the seized goods and trace the broader smuggling network linked to the operation. Further raids are also expected as part of the ongoing enforcement campaign.
Officials maintained that the Customs Enforcement department would continue intelligence-based operations to ensure strict implementation of customs laws and prevent the circulation of smuggled goods in local markets.
