Islamabad (Special Reporter):
Information regarding the alleged sale of Iranian petrol worth millions of rupees on a daily basis in Karachi, reportedly with the connivance of officials of the Collectorate of Customs Enforcement Karachi, has reached the Member Customs, sources said.
Following directives issued by the Member Customs to launch a nationwide crackdown against smugglers, the Collector Customs Enforcement Karachi submitted a performance report after seizing a large tanker carrying smuggled Iranian fuel worth millions of rupees.
According to sources, the Member Customs had issued countrywide instructions to all collectors to intensify action against smuggling networks after receiving multiple reports from across Pakistan. Acting on these orders, anti-smuggling squads of Customs Enforcement Karachi recovered 64,578 litres of smuggled Iranian petrol and diesel worth approximately Rs165 million.
The recovery was made during an operation conducted on the Northern Bypass area of Karachi based on intelligence information. In addition to the fuel, a Mazda vehicle worth around Rs200 million, specially modified with a box for transporting petroleum products, was also seized. The total value of the case stands at approximately Rs365 million.
The operation was carried out on Saturday evening by a team of the Anti-Smuggling Organization under the supervision of Assistant Collector Bismah Noor Jatoi, on the directives of Chief Collector Customs Enforcement Islamabad Basit Maqsood Abbasi and Collector Customs Enforcement Karachi Moeen Wani.
During the operation, customs teams also raided five illegal dumping points operating under the cover of petrol pumps. The seized Mazda vehicle was found unloading Iranian diesel at one of these locations. All recovered petroleum products were shifted to customs warehouses for proper measurement and further legal proceedings.
However, sources allege that despite the crackdown, the business of Iranian petrol and other smuggled goods continues to flourish in areas including the Northern Bypass, allegedly with the connivance of certain anti-smuggling squads. It is further claimed that Iranian petrol is being sold openly at several petrol pumps under the patronage of elements within Customs Enforcement Karachi.
Sources added that while fuel and vehicles worth Rs365 million were seized, several other tankers were allegedly allowed to pass unchecked, raising serious concerns for the Member Customs and the Chief Collector. Attempts to contact Chief Collector Basit Maqsood Abbasi for comments were unsuccessful, as his phone call remained unanswered.