BY M QADEER
LAHORE: Customs Enforcement, Lahore has seized illegally imported betel nuts worth Rs 21 million from a premises in Kasur.
On the directions of Ms. Rabab Sikandar, Chief Collector of Customs (Enforcement-Punjab) and Mr. Muteen Alam, Collector, Collectorate of Customs, Enforcement, Lahore Enforcement, Lahore drive against smuggled foreign origin betel nuts has been beefed up.
The Anti-Smuggling staff including inspector Hamid Babar, Babar Ali Shah and others under the supervision of Ali Akbar Ziadi, Additional Collector and Ali Asad, Deputy Collector, after getting search warrant under Section 162 of the Customs Act, 1969 from the court of honorable Special Magistrate, raided premises of M/s. MMA Foods Jamber District Kasur.
The team searched the premises thoroughly and recovered foreign origin smuggled betel nuts weighting 7000-Kgs(net weight).
After thorough search, it transpired that small plant for crushing of betel nuts was installed in a separate room whereas the main manufacturing of the unit dealt with biscuits and confectionery.
The recovered betel nuts were safely shifted to Customs State Warehouse House and the aforementioned room of the premises was properly sealed.
The value of the recovered betel nuts is around Rs21 million . Further investigation in the matter is underway.