Pakistan Customs thwarted a smuggling attempt involving over 15,465 mobile phones, predominantly Android models, valued at Rs446 million at the Khunjerab Pass border crossing from China to Pakistan.
Customs Officials at the Sost Dry Port received an alert about a truck registered as GLTE 1257 parked on the Karakoram Highway near the Dehi area of Khunjerab Pass, reportedly in preparation for nighttime offloading.
Assistant Collector of Customs at Sost Dry Port, Imtiaz Shigri, dispatched a team to inspect the vehicle at Barkhoon near Dehi. They discovered it abandoned by the roadside. Local inquiries revealed that an unidentified individual had parked the truck, citing a mechanical issue that required repair.
The team then relocated the truck to Sost Dry Port for secure storage. When no one claimed the vehicle or its contents, officials posted a notice at the port and Baggage Section, giving the unknown importer 15 days to produce the necessary documents. No responses were received by the deadline.
Subsequently, the Assistant Collector ordered a further inspection of the truck’s cargo, which revealed 8,365 smartphones (including brands like iPhone, Oppo, Vivo, and One-Plus) and 7,100 bar phones, along with other duty-unpaid goods. The total market value of the seized items was estimated at Rs446 million, all confiscated by Pakistan Customs.
