A joint operation in Chakwal has uncovered an illegal cigarette manufacturing factory, with authorities seizing machinery, raw materials and finished products worth more than Rs. 250 million.
The raid was conducted near Dhrabi village by the Intelligence-Based Division (IBD) Chakwal and the Federal Board of Revenue’s Intelligence and Investigation wing following a tip-off received by the ZHQ Rawalpindi enforcement team.
According to FBR officials, the factory was being operated illegally during nighttime to evade Federal Excise Duty (FED) and General Sales Tax (GST). It was reportedly manufacturing cigarettes under different brand names for sale in the market without being registered with the FBR.
The cigarette packets also did not carry barcodes, which authorities said was another indication of tax evasion.
The facility had 11 cigarette manufacturing machines and three industrial generators, all of which were sealed during the operation.
Officials also seized 72,000 cigarette packets, around 12,000 kilograms of raw tobacco, packaging material, 107,000 empty cigarette packets, 30 cartons of filter rods, 14 cartons of filter paper and drums containing adhesive.
The total value of the seized machinery, raw materials and finished products has initially been estimated at more than Rs. 250 million. Authorities are also calculating the amount of tax allegedly evaded by the illegal manufacturing operation.
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