ISLAMABAD — A Senate sub-committee has taken up the alleged theft of cigarettes worth Rs250 million from warehouses operated by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), raising questions about oversight and storage procedures for confiscated goods. The case involves 2,828 cartons of seized cigarettes that were reported missing from official custody.

The matter was reviewed on Monday by a sub-committee of the Senate Standing Committee on Interior, chaired by Senator Saifullah Abro. Lawmakers sought explanations from FBR officials over how the seized goods were handled and why the disappearance was detected more than a year after the original seizure.

According to FBR officials, 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 moved to two separate warehouses. Officials said the transfer was due to space constraints, with four trucks shifted to one location and two to another.

However, lawmakers expressed concern that the goods were relocated from a monitored facility to a warehouse without CCTV surveillance. The disappearance of the cartons was discovered on May 7, 2025. An FIR was registered at Swabi Police Station on May 21, 2025, and the case was subsequently referred to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).

When asked whether any other seized items had gone missing, FBR officials said no additional losses had been reported.

Officials dismissed, further inquiry ordered

The committee was informed that three FBR officers had been dismissed in connection with the case, while eight others were transferred. None of the dismissed officials is currently in custody.

Lawmakers were also told that an additional 20 cartons were reportedly stolen in January 2026, despite the introduction of new standard operating procedures after the earlier incident.

FBR officials stated that the seized goods belonged to the “Paramount Kisan” brand. The committee was further informed that a High Court has 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.

Terming the case serious, the Senate panel directed the FBR to submit detailed records within two days, including documentation of all officers involved and a 10-year enforcement record of Customs and FBR actions related to seized goods.

The case has drawn attention to the management and security of confiscated items held by revenue authorities, particularly in cases involving high-value goods.