GB customs clerk suspended over smuggled phones found in crash

A clerk from Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) Customs has been suspended, and a case has been filed after smuggled mobile phones and other goods were found following a road accident near Bisham in Lower Kohistan on March 30.

On March 30, 2025, two officials of Gilgit-Baltistan Customs, who were travelling in a private hire vehicle, met with an accident near Bisham city.
The local police recovered 210 mobile phones and other items on the spot.

The police also prepared a recovery report which is on file with the government records. One official, Hafiz Muhammad Nazim Butt (Arresting Officer), was seriously injured and is currently undergoing treatment at PIMS Islamabad, while the other official, Muhammad Abu Bakr (Upper Division Clerk), was unharmed.

On the other hand, the smugglers, whose 17,613 mobile phones worth around Rs 500 million were seized by GB Customs in recent weeks, started spreading rumours that these 210 mobile phones were also among the phones seized from them.
They falsely inflated the number of exported phones, presenting it in the thousands.

To clear up any misunderstandings, all the seized mobile phones were re-counted at the customs warehouse and all were found complete.

Moreover, “We are looking into the situation, as both individuals are injured and unable to provide statements at the moment. Once their condition improves, we will conduct a detailed investigation from every aspect and keep the public and media informed,” said AC Usman Chattha.