KARACHI: Around 4.5 kilogrammes of heroin was seized from a Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) aircraft in Karachi that was departing for London via Lahore and the airport staff has been identified as prime suspects.
“This has happened a hundred times,” says Customs Spokesperson Qamar Thalho, while referring to Wednesday’s incident on PIA flight PK-787. “About 20 years ago, it used to be gold that we used to find in the toilets of aircraft, up to 140, 000 grams of gold at a time, and now we see that it’s mostly heroin being smuggled in the toilet compartments.”
Thalho says that the heroin was placed within panelling in the toilets and sometimes, it is also put underneath the commode. The heroin, wrapped inside plastic bags, was discovered by the customs Drug Enforcement Cell.
“No third party has access to the plane in the hangers or on the runway which means that the heroin could only be put in by a staff member,” says Thalho.
“People who work in maintenance and repairs are the ones with the easiest access and in the past, we’ve seen even smuggling goods being brought in through catering trays.”
Thalho says that such attempts are made quite frequently and boldly, citing the example of a PIA flight in which smuggled gold was found.
A case has been registered under the Control of Narcotics Subtances Act, 1997 by the Investigation and Prosecution branch of the customs.
“The investigation has just started. First we will determine which crew was working in the hangar at that time and also identify others who had access to the plane. After the suspects are interrogated, we can confirm who was involved,” explains Thalho. “The culprit is most probably an insider.”
The customs register their own FIRs independently and if given remand, the suspects remain in their custody for the duration of the remand.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 28th, 2012.
COMMENTS (21)
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The whole country and almost everbody at every level either in gov., beaurocracy or private citizen is engulfed and saturated in corruption, faud, moneylaundering, tax evasion, theft, robbery, price gouging, lying and terrorism of some sort. May God continue to Bless Pakistan
PIA. Great people to get high with.
Could be anyone with access to the aircraft including pilots, stewards, maintenance crew, cleaners etc. because everyone from top to bottom is corrupt in this country.
At the destination someone takes the delivery of these items, and transport them out of that airport. Who are those people?
@Analyzer
In light of the latest development, the slogan should be: "Great People to get High with."
According to just released UN reports, about $30 billion worth of drug passes through pakistan every year. $30 Billion a year! Too many people from generals to lowly PIA staff make $$ from these. I dont think any authority wants to stop it!
Yesterday, people were blaming on NATO trucks. Truth is out there.
Really we are not Thankful for anything. I would say not Great but thoughtful people to fly with.
this is a very short sighted approach by the authorities concerned. At a time where Pakistan's exports are plunging, this was an effort by a concerned citizen to earn foreign exchange for the motherland. This would have solved the problems of militancy, poverty and power in a single stroke...
Haha. This gives new meaning to PIA's slogan, 'Great people to FLY with'.
No wonder delays are common with PIA flights. Time is needed to embed the heroin into the commode.
Let's start PIAgate..... :) .And I presume the last one would be Pakistan-gate
How ungrateful we are.Poor PIA tried to provide us free Happy Hours.
Great people to "get high" with!
these people will surely make us proud in front of the world.very skill full and competent in unethical activities
Those involved in this racket are, Local Customs, PIA employees in engineering, PIA technical staff stationed in UK, ASF Security, PIA security, PIA Ramp and Catering Services and Cabin Cleaning technical services. If the ASF were not involved this huge amount of Heroin could not have entered the airport apron including Hangars. Where are the ANF and Custom sniffing dogs? What can u expect when the son of our PM was involved in Ephedrine scam?.
Moonlighting gone wrong.
Great people to put Heroin in the aircraft!
Incompetent staff, late flights, lack of fuel, tire puncture, rats in the plane.. . and now heroine