Islamabad: A subcommittee of the Senate Standing Committee on Interior, chaired by Saifullah Abro, on Monday took up the alleged theft of 2,828 cartons of seized cigarettes worth Rs. 250 million from warehouses operated by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), raising serious concerns over the handling, storage, and oversight of confiscated goods.
Questions Over Movement and Storage of Seized Goods
FBR officials informed the committee that six trucks carrying 1,262 cartons of cigarettes were seized in Swabi on January 14, 2024.
Committee members questioned why the confiscated goods were later shifted to two separate warehouses.
Responding to queries from Talha Mahmood, officials said the goods were moved due to space constraints, with four trucks shifted to one location and two to another.
However, committee members expressed concern that the cigarettes were transferred from a monitored facility to a warehouse without CCTV surveillance, calling it a major security lapse.
Delayed Discovery and FIR Registration
Officials admitted that the disappearance of the cartons was discovered only on May 7, 2025, while a First Information Report (FIR) was registered on May 21, 2025, at Swabi Police Station, before the case was referred to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).
During the meeting, Umar Farooq asked whether any other seized items had gone missing. FBR officials responded in the negative.
Disciplinary Action Taken
The committee was informed that three FBR officers have been dismissed and eight others transferred in connection with the incident.
However, none of the dismissed officials is currently in custody, a point that drew criticism from committee members.
The panel also noted that an additional 20 cartons were reportedly stolen in January 2026, despite the introduction of new standard operating procedures (SOPs) following the earlier theft.
Court Orders Fresh Inquiry
FBR officials said the seized cigarettes belonged to the “Paramount Kisan” brand. The committee was told that the High Court had ordered a fresh inquiry into the matter.
Following court directives, the seized trucks were released after fines were imposed, while the cigarettes remained in official custody.
Committee Seeks Comprehensive Report
Terming the issue extremely serious, the committee directed the FBR to submit, within two days, complete case details, records of all officers involved, and a 10-year enforcement record of Customs and FBR actions related to seized goods.
Lawmakers stressed that the case highlights systemic weaknesses in the custody of confiscated items and called for stronger oversight mechanisms to prevent similar incidents in the future.
