A significant attempt at smuggling high-value electronic items into Pakistan was thwarted at Faisalabad International Airport on May 14, 2025. Based on confidential intelligence received by the Collectorate of Customs at Allama Iqbal International Airport, Lahore, a coordinated operation was launched to intercept the illegal importation of foreign goods. At approximately 3:25 AM, Customs officials stationed at Faisalabad International Airport intercepted a passenger arriving from a Fly Wee International Airlines flight. The suspect, identified as Mahmud Ahsan, son of Nazir Ahmed and a resident of Chak No. 41-5, Okara, was found in possession of a large consignment of undeclared electronics while attempting to pass through the green channel.
Upon questioning, the passenger denied carrying any dutiable or miscellaneous goods. However, a thorough inspection of his luggage revealed 50 new Apple brand iPhones of various models, chargers, iPads, iPods, MacBooks, old cables, and empty packaging boxes concealed within a trolley bag and a black handbag. The passenger failed to produce any documentation verifying the legal importation or ownership of these items. He admitted that the items were handed over to him by a contact named Raju, based in the UAE, who had coordinated the smuggling attempt with another individual named Wasim.
According to the statement, Raju had arranged the air ticket and instructed Mahmud to deliver the items upon arrival to a local contact who would identify him using a shared photo and SIM card.
The total market value of the seized goods was estimated at approximately 14.34 million Pakistani Rupees, with an assessed customs duty and related taxes amounting to 6.61 million Rupees. The smuggled items, including all mobile phones and accessories, were taken into custody by Customs officials under relevant provisions of the Customs Act, 1969, specifically Sections 157(1) and 168. Further legal grounds were cited under various SROs and import regulations outlined in the Import Policy Order, 2022 and the Import and Export (Control) Act, 1950.
The accused, along with accomplices Raju, Wasim, and others, deliberately attempted to bypass legal import protocols and duties, causing a substantial loss to the national exchequer. Their actions not only violated multiple customs regulations but also reflect a broader network of coordinated smuggling that poses a threat to Pakistan’s trade compliance framework. An official case has been registered under FIR No. 12/2025, and a detailed investigation is now underway. This incident underscores the ongoing challenges faced by Customs authorities in curbing illicit trade and highlights the importance of intelligence-led operations to protect the nation’s economic interests.
