LAHORE: The Mochi Gate police have lodged a case against some ‘armed traders’ for allegedly opening fire on a customs team which had raided a local market to seize smuggled goods here on Thursday.

Customs said the firing by ‘Papa gang’ members injured three staffers and badly damaged official vehicles.

The alleged smugglers also thrashed the raiding team beside setting a loader rickshaw on fire. “However, their bid to carry out the sale of smuggled articles was foiled,” Lahore Assistant Commissioner/Collector (Customs enforcement) Arslan Mughal told Dawn.

“After having information, we, on Wednesday night, started chasing some vehicles, including a van carrying smuggled goods, including cigrettes, sheesha flavours etc worth Rs300 million, approximately. We intercepted the van near the Shahalam Market where these goods were to be sold or stored,” he said.

Three staffers injured, smuggled goods seized

He said after stopping the van, the suspects not only opened fire on the raiding party and their vehicles, but also set a rickshaw loaded with identical goods nearby their van on fire.

“They did this saying it is better to burn the goods instead of being seized by the customs authorities,” he said.

According to him, the smugglers firing injured three staffers and badly damaged official vehicles.

According to a report shared within the department, the Papa gang members opened straight fire on customs team and thrashed officials, injuring an inspector, a head constable and constable. Finally, when a police team reached there to help the raiding teams, smugglers fled. The customs team seized all smuggled goods.

“We have lodged a case under terrorism and other relevant laws,” the AC said.

About the condition of the injured, he said the inspector was critical. The first information report was registered on the complaint of customs enforcement inspector Faisal Liaqat who nominated some of the traders saying they were armed with SMG and other guns when they opened fire on the raiding team.

Published in Dawn, January 10th, 2025