Officials said that now Punjab has been a prime focus of the enforcement actions against the illicit trade for which tobacco squads have increased their efforts under the guidance of Inland Revenue Enforcement Network. Details of the case revealed that upon secret information that Muhammad Abbas Shalimar Town Main Street Harappa Station Sahiwal, the cigarette stockiest, was involved in sale of non duty paid/illicit cigarettes. The deputed team of IE enforcement network Regional Tax Office, Sahiwal obtained search warrant from the Magistrate and with the local police Harappa Police Station reached the business premises of Muhammad Abbas Shalimar Town Main Street Harappa Station Sahiwal and stock of counterfeited/non duty paid cigarettes were examined in his presence which resulted in the recovery of 1,040,000 cigarettes including duties and taxes of Rs 1,190,904.
On demand, Muhammad Abbas could not produce any invoice/relevant documents showing lawful possession of counterfeit/non duty paid cigarettes. Thus, he has contravened the provisions of sections 3,4 read with sections 6,8,10,12,14,14A, 17,18,29,62 to 67 of the Federal Excise Rules, 2005 and Section 3,6,7,8, 8A, 22,23,26, 2(20), 2(25), 2(33), 2(35), 2(37), 2(39), 2(40) & 2(41) of the Sales Tax Act, 1990 read with Sales Tax Rules, 2006. Accordingly, the aforesaid counterfeited/non-duty paid cigarettes liable to confiscation are seized under Section 26(1) of the Federal Excise Act 2005 for further necessary action under the relevant provisions of law.
Meanwhile, Mir Badshah Khan Wazir Chief Commissioner RTO Peshawar Thursday visited the place where tobacco squad of IR Enforcement Network made seizure of 31.35 million sticks of non-duty paid cigarettes in Swabi. Chief Commissioner RTO Peshawar distributed shields to the tobacco squad team on their successful operation against the illicit trade. Muhammad Tanvir Akhtar, Central Co-coordinator of IR Network on illicit tobacco/cigarette trade has highly appreciated the efforts of the tobacco squad of Peshawar.