SIALKOT: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Tuesday foiled an attempt to smuggle over 3,000 mobile phones and arrested 10 passengers as well as Superintendent of Customs Muhammad Tayyab and Customs Constable Anwar Saeed during checking at the international airport.

FIA Divisional Deputy Director Mufakhar Adeel told the media here that on a tip-off, the FIA checked passengers of flights from Sharjah and Dubai during which Muhammad Yaseen, Muhammad Irfan, Muhammad Latif, Shehzad, Abdul Ghani, Muhammad Yawar Khanji, Waheeda Sultana, Muhammad Ehsan, Mustafa and Idrees Kathia were found suspicious.

The FIA recovered 3,454 mobile phones of various brands worth Rs100 million from their bags, as the suspects attempted to smuggle them with the connivance of Tayyab and Saeed. These Customs officials were involved in smuggling for long, the FIA official added.

The suspects told the investigators that they got their luggage cleared after offering bribe to Superintendent Tayyab and Constable Saeed. They arrested suspects were sent behind bars after registering a case against them. Further investigation was under way.

Published in Dawn, September 19th, 2018