Tag: Customs Officials

  • Karachi airport operation: Four passengers nabbed in million-rupee Apple product smuggling

    Karachi airport operation: Four passengers nabbed in million-rupee Apple product smuggling

    In a highly successful operation, customs authorities thwarted an attempt to smuggle high-value tech gadgets worth millions of rupees at Jinnah International Airport in Karachi

    According to ARY News, four passengers, who had arrived in Karachi from Dubai via a private airline, were apprehended by diligent customs officials, resulting in the confiscation of goods with a substantial valuation.

    The individuals taken into custody were identified as Azhar Iqbal, Muhammad Faisal, Azhar Gill, and Zul Noorain. 

    These passengers made an ill-fated attempt to evade customs scrutiny by utilising the green channel without declaring the valuable merchandise. However, the astute customs officials promptly intercepted them and proceeded to inspect their luggage.

    According to Superintendent Agha Najamuddin, who was in charge of the shift, a significant cache of contraband was seized from the arrested individuals. 

    This included more than 50 iPads, numerous laptops, 46 of the latest iPhone models, and 500 packs of internationally sourced cigarettes. 

    Furthermore, the customs officials initiated legal proceedings against the detained suspects, as they failed to provide adequate tax documentation to the customs staff, ensuring that justice prevails in this case.

  • Major corruption exposed: Helicopter parts worth Rs7 billion illegally cleared under investigation

    Major corruption exposed: Helicopter parts worth Rs7 billion illegally cleared under investigation

    In a significant corruption case, helicopter spare parts worth Rs7 billion were illegally cleared from the air freight units (AFUs) through a nexus involving Customs officials and clearing agents.

    The Customs Collector Islamabad has responded to the exposure of the nexus by forming a new two-member committee to investigate the illegal clearance of the helicopter spare parts. The committee includes an additional collector headquarters and a deputy controller preventive, who will initiate a thorough investigation into the matter.

    Prior to this, a previous probe committee had already exonerated the Customs officials, including a superintendent who had admitted to being on duty at the Royal Shade during the time of the alleged illegal clearance. However, with the emergence of new evidence, a fresh inquiry has become necessary to ensure transparency and accountability.

    Separately, a Customs officer named Imran was suspended after a video of him demanding a bribe from a passenger at the Lahore airport went viral. In the video, the officer can be seen soliciting $100 from a Canada-bound passenger who was carrying $9,500, and he threatened to seize all the money if the passenger did not comply. According to Customs law, passengers are not allowed to carry $9,500 in currency abroad to prevent illicit transactions and money laundering.

    Following the circulation of the video, the deputy collector customs took swift action by suspending the officer and directing him to report to headquarters, demonstrating the commitment to address misconduct and uphold integrity within the Customs department.

    The exposure of the helicopter spare parts corruption case and the subsequent investigation by the newly-formed committee signify a strong stance against corruption and malpractices within the Customs department. As the inquiry progresses, it is expected that appropriate measures will be taken to hold those involved in the illegal clearance of the helicopter spare parts accountable.

    The disciplinary actions taken against the Customs officer involved in bribery further emphasise the department’s dedication to ethical conduct in its operations.