Lahore: Customs Intelligence Lahore defeats smuggling and duty evasion in 3rd quarter of FY 2022-23.
In the third quarter of 2022-23, the Directorate of Intelligence & Investigation-Customs, Regional Office, Lahore successfully combated smuggling and tax evasion (Jan 23 –Mar 23). Moreover, The Customs Intelligence Lahore Directorate achieved excellent results by strictly enforcing tax laws, administrative procedures, and FBR recommendations.
Moreover, The team achieved important achievements, including registering 115 seizure cases totalling PKR 1448 million. That is in compared to 99 instances involving PKR 1421 million in the previous financial year’s 3rd quarter (2021-22). While, The Customs Intelligence Lahore range seized huge amounts of smuggled goods, including cloth/fabric (18,743 KGs), betel nuts/Areca nuts (14,642 KGs). Tyres (288 Nos.), auto parts (79000 KGs), cigarettes (6,276 Dandaas/bars), chewable tobacco (1020 tins). Copper, galvanized steel wire, monosodium glutamate, and others.
Record number of vehicles seized
During the same period, Lahore Intelligence seized 58 vehicles, including Toyota Land Cruisers (07). Mercedes Benz cars (01), BMW cars (01), Range Rover (02), Toyota Prius (06), Toyota Vitz (07). Toyota Mark-X (03), Toyota Hilux Surf (02), Nissan Skyline (01), Toyota Aqua (07). Toyota Passo (01), Daihatsu Mira (01), and Honda Accord cars (02). Moreover, Heavy bikes of various brands also seized (17).
The I&P branch of this Directorate filed 7 FIRs in the third quarter of this fiscal year. While, Throughout this time, organized gangs smuggling commodities and automobiles busted and charged.
Revenue realization also increased, with the Auction branch disposing of goods/lots for PKR 192 million in the 3rd quarter of FY 2022-23, up 34% from last year’s 144 million. Redeeming products against duty and taxes yielded 40 million PKR.
Ch Rizwan Bashir Kalair, Additional Director, Ali Asad, Deputy Director, Rai Waqar, Superintendent, Aslam Iqbal, I.O., and Ahtisham Naveed, IO, are significant achievers in the Anti-Smuggling department. Ch Rizwan Bashir Kalair, Additional Director, Shah Samad Hamdani, Deputy Director, Rai Waqar, Superintendent, Usman Azad, IO, and Akmal Shehbaz, IO, were honored in the I&P department. Revenue realization leaders include Muhammad Anwar, Assistant Director, Abdul Hameed Bhatti, IO, and Fida Hussain, IO.
Director General Customs Intelligence Islamabad, Ch. Faiz Ahmad Chadhar, hailed the Anti-smuggling section of Lahore Intelligence’s record-setting “58” vehicle seizures worth 590 million PKR in one quarter, an increase of 262%. Customs Intelligence Lahore will fight smuggling networks and tax evaders 24/7.