The Federal Board of Revenue’s Directorate of Intelligence & Investigation (Inland Revenue), Faisalabad, to curb the menace of illicit trade of counterfeit and non-duty paid cigarettes, has busted 300 cartons (3,000,000 sticks) of cigarettes of different brands from multiple stock-houses of traders in Faisalabad.
The Director General (Intelligence & Investigation, Inland Revenue), in successive official meetings and communiqués, conveyed the field formations regarding zero-tolerance of the Government & Federal Board of Revenue towards the menace of counterfeit cigarettes. While counterfeit cigarettes are extremely hazardous for health, their trade causes huge losses to the national exchequer in terms of evasion of duties and taxes.
Following these policy guidelines, Tobacco Squad of Intelligence & Investigation (Inland Revenue), Faisalabad, under the supervision of Deputy Director Imran Zafar, visited the business premises and sales office of a Registered person in Timber Market—the godown located near Lari Ada, Tandlianwala—after getting a search warrant from the area magistrate, police station City Tandlianwala. This was done in exercise of powers u/s 38 of the Sales Tax Act, 1990 read with Rule 62 of the Federal Excise Duty, 2005. From this premises, 150 cartons of counterfeit/non-duty paid cigarettes were recovered. Additionally, the owners of the premises failed to provide sales tax invoice/Bill-T and other allied documents.
In another incident, the Directorate, Tobacco Squad of Intelligence & Investigation (Inland Revenue), Faisalabad recovered 150 cartons of non-duty paid cigarettes from M-3 Motorway. Upon receiving secret information, the Directorate conducted a search and discovered the cartons under a makeshift shed about half a kilometre from Deputywala Interchange on Faisalabad Road. Two persons present at the location were questioned, but failed to produce any verification documents pr tax invoices. The counterfeited products were taken into custody. The tax and duties evaded on the recovered merchandise are estimated to run in millions of rupees.
The Director General (Intelligence & Investigation, Inland Revenue) appreciated the efficient action of Faisalabad Directorate, and urged them to speed up the drive for curbing illicit trade. He emphasised that only fair businesses, approved by health, quality and brand specifications and standard, take place, while criminal elements involved in robbing the exchequer and endangering the health of the general public be prompthy brought to law.
