LAKHANPUR: Excise Department foiled a bid to smuggle willow clefts and seized 4,553 willow clefts at Toll Post Lakhanpur.
The Excise Department, under the guidance of T. Angchok, Excise Commissioner, J and K and under the direct supervision of Rajesh Sharma, Deputy Excise Commissioner, Toll Post Lakhanpur, thwarted yet another attempt of smuggling of a huge cache of willow clefts to outside the State.
A vehicle bearing registration No.JK03C-6512 (actual number JK03C-4588) reported at Toll Post Lakhanpur and as per the documents produced it was reportedly loaded with fresh fruit apples consigned by Dewan Fruit Co Shop No.1134 Phase-2nd, Fruit Complex Narwal Mandi, Jammu to M/s Chaind Fruit Co New Delhi Sabzi Mandi vide Challan No.509 dated nil.
The vehicle was put to physical check and on physical checking, about 4,553 willow clefts were recovered from the vehicle.
The driver of the vehicle along with the seized willow clefts has been handed over to the SHO Police Station, Lakhanpur for further investigation.
It is worthwhile to mention here that the Toll Post Lakhanpur has been able to detect major haul of willow clefts and has seized 17,428 willow clefts during the current financial year.
The team of the Excise Department that performed the task comprised of Excise and Taxation Officer namely Ajay Bharti, Inspectors Deepak Thappa, Anmolak Singh and Rakesh Chopra and Sub Inspectors Ravinder Pal and Excise Guard Zamrood Hussain.
The Excise Commissio-ner appreciated the role of officers/officials engaged in detecting the willow clefts and thwarting the ill designs of the smugglers.
He further enjoined up the staff of the Toll Post Lakhanpur to intensify the checking and thwart the nefarious designs of smugglers attempting such illegal practices.