RECORDER REPORT

KARACHI: Model Collectorate of Customs (MCC)-Preventive on Wednesday foiled an attempt to smuggle huge quantity of silver coated gold and foreign currency worth over Rs. 30 million to UAE via Emirates flight EK-605 and took three persons (Carriers) into custody.

Speaking at a press conference at AFU unit, Karachi, chief collector Zahid Khokar along with collector preventive Saifuddin Junijo and other staff said that action was taken on a tip-off, which revealed that some unscrupulous elements were planning to take huge quantity of gold and foreign currency out of the country through a group of passengers on the intervening night of 5th-6th September 2016.

Reacting on the said information, the customs staff was directed to mount strict surveillance on all outgoing passengers especially travelling via Dubai-bound flights.

He said that customs staff deputed at international departure spotted three passengers in the wee hours of September 5th-6th 2016, who were travelling together by Emirates flight EK-605.

These passengers, who were identified as Syed Nasir, Faisal Bin Suleman and Rashid Iqbal, were allowed to move under secret watch to the customs desk with their collective baggage consisting of two handbags and three hand trolleys.

Moreover, chief collector said that these passengers had crossed the currency declaring counter established by customs department without voluntary declaration and later they were stopped at customs examination counter for complete examination when they passed the ASF checking, scanning and screening counters.

He said that they were repeatedly asked to declare whether they were carrying any contraband goods like gold, currency, etc prior to examination of their baggage but all of them replied in negative.

“On being dissatisfied with their declaration, the baggage was later examined that led to the recovery of huge quantity of assorted foreign currency and around three kilograms of silver coated gold worth over Rs. 30 million”. He said that the gold, which was tied to two of the accused passengers’ waist in form of chains, was coated in silver to hoodwink the customs staff. The total market value of seized three kilogram of gold was Rs. 13.05 million and currency of different denomination in Pak rupees was Rs. 17.27 million. Consequent upon recovery, a case has been registered against these persons, who were on remand till September 19, 2016. Further investigation is underway.