PTBP Web Desk
Customs has successfully thwarted several major silver smuggling attempts in coordinated operations across Quetta, Karachi, and Gadani. Acting on credible intelligence under the Chief Collectorate of Customs (Enforcement), Islamabad, enforcement teams seized over 100 kilograms of smuggled silver along with vehicles used in illegal transport, worth tens of millions of rupees.
These operations highlight Pakistan Customs’ growing effectiveness in curbing illegal trade and reflect the agency’s strengthened surveillance under the FBR’s Transformation Plan.
The first major interception took place in Yaroo, Balochistan, where officials from the Collectorate of Customs (Enforcement) Quetta stopped a Toyota Axio (Reg. No. AWQ-240) based on actionable intelligence. Upon inspection, officers discovered a substantial quantity of smuggled silver hidden within the vehicle compartments.
The confiscated items included:
- 40 Fine Silver Bricks (999.9 purity) weighing 39,996 grams (approximately 40 kg)
- 36 Silver Biscuits (999 purity) weighing 9,000 grams (approximately 9 kg)
- The Toyota Axio, valued at PKR 6 million
The total estimated value of the seizure was PKR 26.76 million. Both the vehicle and the recovered silver have been placed under official custody, and a detailed investigation is underway to trace the smugglers, financiers, and intended recipients of the contraband.
In Karachi, the Collectorate of Customs (Enforcement) conducted two separate but consecutive intelligence-based operations at the Mochko Check Post on RCD Highway.
A passenger bus, Al-Hakeem (BTA-022), arriving from Gwadar, was intercepted and searched. Customs officers discovered 25 kilograms of smuggled silver cleverly concealed inside passenger luggage. The contraband, valued at approximately PKR 12 million, belonged to an individual identified as Muhammad Arif s/o Shahjahan, who failed to present any valid import documentation.
In a follow-up operation at the same checkpoint, officials intercepted another passenger bus, Al-Saif (JD-553), based on credible intelligence. A further 20 kilograms of silver bars worth PKR 9 million were found hidden beneath the vehicle flooring. The bus and its crew were detained, and the silver was seized under the Customs Act, 1969.
Both cases are currently under active investigation, with authorities working to identify the supply chain, transportation routes, and smuggling financiers.
In a parallel enforcement action, the Field Enforcement Unit (FEU) Khurkhera, operating under Pakistan Customs Gadani, executed another successful raid in coordination with Uthal Police. On October 23, 2025, officers intercepted a Toyota Corolla (Reg. No. BFR-023) carrying smuggled silver.
The raid resulted in the recovery of 25 kilograms of high-purity silver, leading to the arrest of two suspects, identified as Shah Wali and Abdul Razak. An FIR has been lodged, and both the vehicle and silver have been confiscated. Officials confirmed that further inquiries are ongoing to identify other members of the smuggling network and the origin of the contraband.
A spokesperson for Pakistan Customs praised the dedicated enforcement units in Quetta, Karachi, and Gadani for their coordinated and intelligence-driven actions. The spokesperson emphasized that these operations demonstrate enhanced vigilance, inter-agency coordination, and a proactive enforcement approach under the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Transformation Plan.
“These coordinated actions reflect Pakistan Customs’ enhanced vigilance and inter-agency cooperation aimed at protecting the national economy and ensuring lawful trade,” the spokesperson said.
The FBR’s Transformation Plan has played a pivotal role in modernizing enforcement mechanisms. Under this initiative, Pakistan Customs has improved its intelligence-sharing network, deployed advanced surveillance systems, and enhanced coordination with law enforcement agencies such as the Frontier Corps, Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF), and provincial police departments.
These efforts are part of a broader national strategy to safeguard Pakistan’s borders from smuggling of precious metals, narcotics, and other high-value commodities that cause revenue losses and distort legitimate trade.
Smuggling of silver, gold, fuel, and foreign currency remains a serious issue for Pakistan’s economy. Experts estimate that billions of rupees are lost annually due to such illicit trade. The latest operations demonstrate Pakistan Customs’ firm resolve to counter smuggling syndicates, disrupt financial flows of organized crime, and ensure transparency in cross-border trade.
These successes follow a string of similar enforcement actions in recent months, which have targeted gold smuggling rings and non-duty-paid vehicles operating along Pakistan’s southwestern borders.
