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The increase in excise duties in February 2023 has led to an exponential increase in cigarette smuggling and counterfeiting. photo: reuters
ISLAMABAD:
The subcommittee of the Senate Standing Committee on Home Affairs on Thursday discussed the theft of 2,828 cartons of cigarettes from an FBR warehouse.
The meeting, chaired by Senator Saifullah Abro, was briefed by FIA and FBR officials about the incident.
FIA officials informed the committee that drivers entering and leaving the warehouse normally receive passes. They said the statements of the officers whose names emerged during the investigation had been recorded.
Authorities further said that on the day the cigarettes were moved, no pass had been issued to the driver. They added that the manager on duty was also absent during the transfer of the goods and no record was recorded.
FIA officials told the committee that no CCTV footage of the incident was available.
FBR officials stated that the department had rented the warehouse and there were no surveillance cameras installed on the premises.
“We had verbally briefed all officers about the SOPs,” FBR officials said.
