3 cops, IRS guard among imposters booked for raids in name of FBR

ISLAMABAD: A fake official of FBR, along with other accomplices of police and private individuals, has been found involved in illegal search of trucks carrying cigarettes for extorting money from them.

The details available with The News reveal the Lahore Police have registered an FIR against a group of fraudsters involved in illegal searches on vehicles carrying tobacco/cigarettes.

The fraudsters had been intercepting cargo trucks transporting cigarettes, coercing drivers into complying with illegal searches. In some cases, they extorted money in exchange for allowing the trucks to continue their journey.

The perpetrators, involving an armed guard of the Inland Revenue (FBR) and three police officials, along with other private individuals, posing as Inland Revenue Enforcement Squad officials reportedly targeted a truck carrying cigarettes at Sagian Bridge in Lahore on October 31 last month.

According to the FIR, the fraudsters orchestrated an illegal search on the truck and extorted money from the driver and owners of the shipment. The fraudsters had been conducting unauthorised and illegal searches of vehicles transporting cigarettes, falsely claiming to be representatives of the Inland Revenue Service’s IREN squad.

The IREN squad is entrusted with the job to check illegal transport of non-duty paid cigarettes and other goods, including fertilizer, sugar etc.

On receipt of complaint from the cargo truck owner, the Inland Revenue Enforcement Network, Lahore started investigation to determine the facts and bring the culprits to justice. The accused official of Inland Revenue was transferred from Lahore to Regional Tax Office, Abbottabad.

The Inland Revenue Enforcement Network claims it takes strict measures to curb such fraudulent activities.