Smuggled cigarettes seized

LAHORE

In two different raids in Lahore on Friday and Saturday, Law Enforcement Authorities raided retailers selling smuggled cigarettes. The raids were carried out on Bablu Pan Shop, Ferozepur Road and Babu Pan Shop, Model Town. Some quantities of smuggled cigarettes were seized and it is reported that in one case an FIR was also registered. 

According to sources, despite governments warnings through advertisements, cigarette retailers and wholesalers continued selling illegal cigarettes.  FBR created awareness against illegal cigarettes along with the consequences for selling them, not only through newspaper advertisements but also through billboards and even Cinema advertisements.

The raids on the retailers come after a huge stock seizure of 450 cartons of cigarettes by Customs Intelligence team in Khalid Plaza, Near Pan Mandi, Lahore.

The sources said that the government is serious in curtailing the sale of smuggled cigarettes in the country as these cigarettes cause a huge loss to the national exchequer and also undermine the health agenda of the country by not carrying the government of Pakistan mandated health warning.

Meanwhile, on the information by Customs Collector Mukarram Jah, Anti-Smuggling Organisation seized smuggled items worth millions of rupees from a godown in Bilal Gunj.

According to spokesman of customs Shahid Bhatti, a team of customs led by Muhammad Adnan Khan, Assistant Collector, Mumtaz Ajmal Mian, Superintendent, Saleem Akhtar, Mazhar Abbas Butter, Ejaz Rasool Shah, Deputy Superintendent and Khalid Butt, Irfan Mumtaz, Arif Mayo, Sajjad Bukhari, Amjad Khan, Hameed Bhatti, Shahid Khan Inspectors and others recovered used smuggled tyres of assorted size, brands 12000-nos and 300-Alloy Rims from a godown at Bilal Gunj. He said the godown is owned by Nomi and Azeem. 

The C & F value of recovered goods is Rs 60 million whereas market value is Rs 85 millions, he added. A case has been registered.