Hyderabad Customs seize three oil tankers flagged by Ogra tracking app

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Customs Hyderabad carried out three separate operations with the help of the tracking system of the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra). Three oil tankers carrying petrol and high-speed diesel were taken into custody.

According to Customs officials, the three tankers were carrying about 20,000 litres of Petroleum Products in total. The combined value of the vehicles and the fuel loaded in them is estimated at about Rs40 million.

Officials said the operation began when no tracking record of the tankers could be found on the Ogra portal. The absence of a digital record raised suspicion and further checks were carried out.

During the checks, unjustified delays in the delivery of Petroleum Products, broken or tampered seals and irregularities in documents came to light. The investigation also found that the consignees named on the delivery invoices did not match the places where the fuel was actually being unloaded.

According to Customs, digital monitoring is being used to identify suspicious movement and to verify the delivery of Petroleum Products. Officials said the Ogra tracking app has improved monitoring in the field and is helping to stop illegal movement of fuel. They said the app can be used to follow the movement of tankers and to check whether deliveries are being made according to the prescribed procedure.

Verification of the seized tankers and the products in them is continuing. Further action will be taken in accordance with the law once the nature and extent of the violations are determined.

Customs officials said operations will continue to end smuggling, protect the legal supply chain, ensure compliance with the rules and prevent misuse of the fuel distribution system.