FBR to Crack Down on Sale of Smuggled Goods via Social Media from January 1
ISLAMABAD: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has decided to initiate a crackdown against marketers selling smuggled and non-custom-paid goods through social media platforms.
According to sources within the FBR, tax authorities will start monitoring social media accounts involved in the sale of such goods from January 1, compiling comprehensive data on individuals and businesses engaged in illegal online trade.
As part of the operation, tax officials will pose as potential customers to contact sellers, obtain their mobile numbers, and gather other identifying details to trace those involved in the illicit activity.
Sources revealed that a wide range of smuggled items are being openly marketed on social media, including electronics, household appliances, shoes and garments, cosmetic products and tools, chocolates, toffees and chewing gum, blankets, bedsheets and carpets, tyres, auto parts and accessories, as well as laptops, Chromebooks and computers.
Other goods being sold through various platforms include stoves, cooking ranges and ovens, crockery, juicers and choppers, dry fruits, canned foods, jams and jellies, olive oil, olives and other imported food items, furniture, decorative products, tiles, sanitary fittings and related materials.
Officials said sellers will be traced using their email addresses and mobile numbers, with assistance from NADRA to verify their identities. Notices will be issued, and enforcement teams will subsequently identify their shops and warehouses to initiate further legal action.
In a statement, the FBR reiterated its commitment to strengthening enforcement through improved intelligence gathering and enhanced inter-agency coordination to curb smuggling and safeguard the national economy.
Earlier, the FBR had also announced plans for a nationwide crackdown on tax evaders who flaunt extravagant lifestyles on social media platforms.
The FBR’s Social Media Monitoring Team has already gathered detailed information on individuals who display luxury lifestyles online but have failed to file income tax returns.
