20000315

Bid to smuggle

riyals worth

Rs 18m foiled

RECORDER REPORT

HYDERABAD: Anti-smuggling squad of Customs Department, Hyderabad foiled an attempt of smuggling of riyals worth Rs. 18 million. The riyals were in the form of coins and were booked for one Sheikh Abdul Wajid Shershah.

Custom Anti-Smuggling Squad Deputy Superintendent Ghulam Rasool Memon received an information that a large quantity of foreign currency is in circulation within the country and being brought to Karachi by road.

Working on the tip-off a team of Customs Anti-smuggling Squad comprising Javed Ali, Ghaffar Sheikh, Sohail Ansar and Ilyas Chishti was constituted which put the Super Highway and the National Highway under surveillance.

During the course of checking the team signalled a Truck No. RIN-9856 to stop but the driver accelerated the speed defying the orders. It was chased and followed a brief chase it was made to stop near the Jamshoro Toll Plaza.

The truck was carrying 216 gunny bags. During the checking of the bags different Irani riyals of 20, 10 and 5 denomination were found. The actual cost of the coins was estimated at Rs. 18,080,000. The truck driver, Aurangzeb Khan, has been arrested and a case has been registered.