In a recent intelligence-based raid on a warehouse in Karachi’s SITE industrial area, Pakistan Customs officials successfully seized smuggled Japanese automobile parts valued at an astounding Rs1.5 billion. The operation, led by Director General Customs Intelligence Faiz Chadhar, unfolded after receiving a crucial tip-off.

The targeted warehouse stored a treasure trove of high-quality auto parts, including tie-rods and spark plugs. Director Customs Intelligence Karachi Engineer Habib Ahmed, accompanied by Additional Director Afzal Ahmed and Deputy Director Wasif Malik, disclosed the details during a news conference.

The Details

A dedicated team executed a seven-day non-stop surveillance operation on the warehouse. The meticulous reconnaissance was followed by a well-planned raid, resulting in the successful confiscation of Japanese auto parts worth Rs1.5 billion.

This significant success follows another raid on a DHA Phase-I bungalow on September 31, where China-made smuggled spark plugs worth Rs1.6 million were seized based on intelligence reports. A subsequent case was registered.

The Customs Directorate’s relentless anti-smuggling efforts extended beyond auto parts, with the recent confiscation of two million sticks of smuggled foreign-brand cigarettes and other illicit items in the Saddar area, amounting to Rs100 million.

In just this month, Rs2.45 billion worth of smuggled items have been seized in 25 separate operations. Over the past five months, a staggering Rs4.54 billion worth of smuggled items have been confiscated.

The Customs director emphasized the extraordinary nature of the Japanese auto parts case, suspecting potential money laundering links. Despite the gravity of the situation, no arrests have been made, and the owners of the warehouse are currently at large.

In response to another inquiry, the director confirmed the ongoing investigation into the case of iPhones worth Rs130 million seized from Karachi airport. The probe is actively exploring possible connections to money laundering, reflecting the Customs Directorate’s commitment to combating illicit activities in the region.