SURAT: The Surat customs department has traced the kingpin operating the smuggling of the high valued imported cigarettes
to Kolkata
. The accused Pramod Kumar Singh is also accused of tax evasion amounting to lakhs of rupees.
The officials seized parcels of imported cigarettes valued at Rs 55 lakh from Howrah-Ahmedabad Express train on June 13. Investigations revealed that the consignment was to be supplied to one Asif Shaikh in the city.
Official sources said that the department had picked up Shaikh from city’s Limbayat area and one Farooq Mohammed from Ahmedabad in connection with the smuggling of the imported cigarettes.
Further interrogation of the duo revealed that the consignment was sent by one Pramod Kumar Singh owner of M/s JBC Express in Kolkata.
Talking with TOI, deputy commissioner of customs, Ghanshyam Soni said, “Farooq Mohammed loaded the consignment from Ahmedabad and Asif Shaikh was to unload it in Surat and that they both work for one Pramod Kumar Singh, who paid them commission for transporting the consignment from railway station to the buyers in Surat.”
Soni added, “We have collected lease documents of JBC Express and investigating in the direction of drugs and angle. Both the accused caught by us are transporters and they drive tempos to ferry the smuggled goods.”
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