Customs authorities at Allama Iqbal International Airport of Lahore have foiled another attempt to smuggle 23 iPhones into the country, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Sunday.
The Customs officials found the iPhones in a hand-carry bag of a UK-returned passenger.
The Customs officers searched the bag of Muhammad Nadeem, who landed at Lahore Airport via Dubai on an Emirates Airlines flight.
Deputy Collector Customs Saqib Warraich along with his team members including Sepoy Waheed foiled the attempt to smuggle 23 iPhones.
The Customs team stopped the passenger upon finding him feeling uneasy and after searching his hand-carry bag, it was found that he was trying to smuggle 23 iPhones worth Rs2.3 million into the country.
Customs officers confiscated the smuggled iPhones and registered an FIR against the accused smuggler, reported the TV channel, quoting its sources.
On Friday last, Customs authorities had also seized 39 pricey mobile phones from a passenger who landed at Lahore Airport onboard a flight from the UK.
Same Customs team led by Deputy Collector Customs Airport Saqib Warraich took the timely action and foiled the attempt to smuggle the cell phones into Pakistan and recovered the mobile phones which the traveller taped onto his body.
Briton of Pakistani origin Mirza Irfan landed at Lahore Airport via Qatar Airways flight QR-620. Due to his suspicious movements, the Customs officials stopped him at their counter and during the search, they recovered 39 mobile phones and dozens of hand-frees and chargers from him.
The passenger had taped the mobile phones all over his body. Iphones, Samsung and Motorola phones were among the recovered ones with the overall value of all the seized items were around 5.5 million rupees.
Customs officials allowed Mirza Irfan to go home after seizing the goods. Senior Customs officials lauded the performance of the Deputy Collector and his team.