Layyah, Punjab: Layyah Police has launched a major crackdown against the smuggling of Afghan-linked cigarettes, seizing a huge consignment of non duty paid smuggled cigarettes worth approximately Rs.10 million in Kot Sultan.
Acting on a tip-off, a team of Kot Sultan Police Station intercepted the suspected smuggled consignment near Daryai Patan Ath Mahaar, recovering 4,860 outers of non custom paid smuggled cigarettes.
Police officials revealed that the seized cigarettes also includes the Mond cigarette brand.
The seizure has once again brought the spotlight on the growing network of Afghanistan linked cigarette smuggling into Pakistan, which is allegedly depriving the national exchequer of billions of rupees every month.
According to a recent ACT Alliance research report, the Mond cigarette brand is manufactured by Gulbahar Tobacco Company, with production facilities reportedly in Dubai and Russia.
ACT Alliance research report further reveals that the Gulbahar Tobacco Company is owned by an Afghanistan linked business family and alleges that an organized network is involved in smuggling of Afghan-linked cigarette brands into Pakistan and their further distribution across Pakistan.
According to the ACT Alliance report, black money generated through the illegal cigarette trade is potentially moved through money laundering channels to Afghanistan, raising concerns beyond tax evasion and smuggling.
The latest seizure by Layyah Police is therefore being viewed as more than a routine customs violation. It highlights the scale of an underground cigarette black market and distribution network.
According to the police, the operation was carried out on the directives of DPO Layyah Hassan Javed Bhatti, with SHO Kot Sultan Zawar Hussain leading the police team. The seized cigarettes have been handed over to Customs authorities for further legal proceedings.
According to Hasan Javed Bhatti, District Police Officer, Layyah Police the crackdown against the transportation of smuggled and non duty paid cigarettes would be intensified and police will investigate the whole network involved in this smuggling supply chain.
