The Collectorate of Customs Enforcement in Peshawar on Wednesday claimed to have seized a massive consignment of foreign-origin cigarettes valued at Rs45 million as part of a wider crackdown on smuggling that netted contraband and vehicles worth a total of Rs101.91 million over the past week.
In a series of intelligence-based operations, authorities successfully foiled multiple attempts to smuggle illicit goods. The confiscated consignments included 14,000 sleeves of foreign cigarettes and 7,500 kilograms of foreign-origin cloth, estimated to be worth Rs. 35 million.
Other impounded items, collectively valued at Rs. 21.91 million, comprised tyres, lithium-ion batteries, betel nuts, poppy seeds, and dry yeast. The vehicles used in the smuggling attempts were also seized by officials.
All recovered goods and vehicles have been taken into custody under the relevant provisions of the Customs Act, 1969, and authorities have confirmed that further legal proceedings are now underway.
In addition to direct enforcement, the Collectorate is focusing on analysing smuggling trends and sharing intelligence with other field formations to enable coordinated efforts against the movement of non-duty-paid and contraband products.
The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) stated its firm commitment to eliminating smuggling, protecting national revenue, and ensuring the strict enforcement of customs laws through intelligence-led operations and inter-agency coordination.