Islamabad, Apr 4, 2025: A Customs official from Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) has been fired after an inquiry confirmed his participation in a mobile phone smuggling operation. An FIR has been filed against him and his sibling. On March 30, 2025, two GB Customs officers were involved in a car crash near Bisham.
Local authorities discovered 210 mobile phones and other items at the accident site, as per an official statement.
Hafiz Muhammad Nazim Butt, an arresting officer, suffered severe injuries and is currently receiving medical care at PIMS Islamabad, while his colleague, Upper Division Clerk (UDC) Muhammad Abu Bakr, was unharmed.
Following the accident, smugglers falsely claimed that the recovered phones were part of a larger seizure of 17,613 mobile phones worth around Rs. 500 million by GB Customs.
However, a subsequent recount at the Customs warehouse confirmed that all seized phones were accounted for and untouched.
Investigations further revealed that the brother of a Customs official, involved in the smuggling operation, was at the scene.
The Customs officer was found to have been acting as a carrier for the smuggled phones, which he had acquired from the black market.
Read More: NEPRA Approves Rs3.021 Negative Adjustment for KE FCA, Withholds Rs2 Billion
The officer’s brother later retrieved the phones from the police.
After confirming the official’s role, a show cause notice was issued, leading to his dismissal, and an FIR was filed against both him and his brother.
As for the arresting officer Hafiz Muhammad Nazim Butt, his involvement remains uncertain due to his medical condition.
His participation will be clarified during the criminal process, with further action being considered if required.
