Drugs in consignments worry Customs: probe initiated

The customs authorities have started a thorough probe into a recent case of detection of drugs concealed in the consignments exported from the jurisdiction of Model Customs Collectorate (MCC), Islamabad, Lahore and Sialkot by Anti Narcotics Force (ANF).
Sources told Business Recorder here on Wednesday that the issue was discussed during the last Collector''s Conference of North Region held at Model Customs Collectorate (MCC), Islamabad, chaired by the then Chief Collector of Customs, North Region Aftab Anwar Baloch. The meeting was held on September 17, 2011 when Aftab Anwar Baloch was Chief Collector of Customs, North Region.
According to the sources, the Chief Collector expressed his displeasure and deep concern over the detection of drugs concealed in the consignments exported from the jurisdiction of MCC, Islamabad, Lahore and Sialkot by ANF and other organisations and directed the concerned collectors to carry out the detailed investigation in these cases, take action against the officials involved and ensure that all preventive measures are taken to prevent such incident in future which brings a bad name to the Customs Department.
The Collector''s Conference of the North Region was held to review the revenue and anti-smuggling performance of the North region viz-a-viz the targets assigned and to evaluate a strategy not only to achieve but surpass these targets assigned for the first quarter of the financial year 2011-2012. A brief review, analysis and up to date performance of all the Customs Collectorates of the North Region was brought to the notice of all the participants attending the conference.
During the conference, it was decided that Collector MCC, Peshawar, Faisalabad, Lahore, Multan, Sambrial and Islamabad assured the Chief Collector (North) to recoup the shortfall in the next 14 days and the targets would be achieved by 30th September, 2011.
It has also been decided that the Chief Collector directed all the Collectors to make extraordinary efforts to recover the amounts stuck up in arrears, bank guarantees, auction, litigation etc which is more than Rs 21 billions. The recovery of huge amount of Rs 21 billion arrears would be instrumental in increasing revenue collection during 2011-12.
All Collectors assured the Chief Collector (North) that the assigned targets for the first quarter would be achieved by September 30, 2011, sources said. The Chief Collector directed that the policy of retrieval of invoices and packing list of consignments imported by air, which was circulated by letter No 01/CC/ (North) Region-01/2011/1139 should be strictly enforced in all Collectorates.
Baloch further directed the Collector Faisalabad and Additional Collector, Faisalabad to co-ordinate with the Director, Audit Lahore to get the verification of the pending paras of all Collectorates of the North Region be conducted by September 30, 2011. All collectors were advised to send the individual report of all the audit paras of above mentioned years to Chief Collector North Office Lahore, by September 25, 2011. The Chief Collector directed all the Collectors to recover the amounts involved in the pending paras relating to these years by September 25, 2011. The Chief Collector directed all the Collectors to finalise all the disciplinary cases pending in their Collectorates expeditiously.
Sources said that the then Chief Collector expressed his deep concern on the delay in the disposal of gold, silver, foreign currency and cellular telephone sets worth Rs 455 million lying in Warehouse of Lahore Collectorate and directed the collector to immediately dispose of the subject goods.
Baloch further directed all the collectors to conduct visit of all the field formations regularly and communicate the outcome of such visits to the office of the CC (N) Lahore. The Chief Collector directed the Collector, Multan to complete the computerisation process in all the branches of MCC, Multan and a Facilitation Centre be immediately set up at Dryport, Multan.
Sources said that the Chief Collector directed the Collector MCC, Lahore to immediately complete the audit of M/s Sugi (Pvt) Ltd and warehouses at International Airport and Departure lounge at Lahore Airport. The Collector, Multan was specifically directed to finalise 4 cases by 30-09-2011 and remaining 4 cases by October 30, 2011 positively. The Collector, Multan was directed that the Security Procedure issued by him regarding the stoppage of pilferage from the state warehouses and office compound be communicated to the CC (N) office, Lahore for circulation and replication in all the Collectorates of North Region, sources added.