RTO Abbottabad seizes 3,000 bales of raw tobacco

The Regional Tax Office (RTO) Abbottaba seized 3,000 bales of raw tobacco during an extensive enforcement operation, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) said on Wednesday.

In a statement, the FBR said that each bale of tobacco weighed approximately 80kg.

The premises involved have been sealed, and a formal investigation has been initiated, the board said.

“This operation, one of the largest tobacco confiscations in the region’s history, reaffirms the FBR“s commitment to eliminating the menace of smuggling and illicit trade through enhanced monitoring and decisive enforcement,” the press release said.

“This unprecedented action reflects RTO Abbottabad’s firm resolve to curb revenue leakages, dismantle illegal supply networks, and safeguard compliant businesses.”

On Sunday, the Collectorate of Customs Enforcement, Peshawar, seized smuggled goods worth an estimated Rs74.4 million in a series of coordinated operations across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

In the largest action, the Enforcement Division in D.I. Khan intercepted three trucks carrying 12,200 kg of smuggled betel nuts, 4,021 sleeves of foreign-origin cigarettes, and 170 tyres. The goods and vehicles, valued at Rs54.5 million, were taken into custody.

Customs officials in D.I. Khan also confiscated non-duty-paid cosmetics, including creams, lotions, shampoos, and petroleum jelly, recovered from passenger vehicles. The seized items are valued at Rs2.4 million.