Contraband seized: Customs recover 1,470 grams of cocaine, 200 grams of heroin

A Nigerian passenger was carrying 75 capsules of cocaine, each weighing 20 grams, inside his abdomen

KARACHI: The Pakistan Customs preventive team recovered 1,470 grams of cocaine from the body of a Nigerian passenger and 200 grams of heroin from Foreign Post Export Branch, II Chundrigarh Road, in separate raids on Thursday.

According to Customs preventive additional collector Feroz Alam Junejo, a total of 1,470 grams of cocaine was recovered from the body of Nigerian passenger Chikwendu Sabastine, who had arrived from Lagos, Nigeria, to Karachi via Dubai by flight number EK-606. He was addressing a press conference arranged by Pakistan Customs at Air Freight Unit, Karachi, where Customs officials presented the seized contrabands.

Talking to the press, Junejo said that they had information of a Nigerian passenger carrying cocaine to Pakistan and that is why they had stepped up vigilance over Nigerian passengers. “Nothing was found from his luggage, but since his body language was suspicious, the Customs team decided to examine his body through X-ray,” said Junejo. He further explained that on his medical examination, the Customs team found out that the passenger was carrying around 75 capsules, each of 20 grams, in his abdomen, which were later excreted at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre.

The market value of the seized cocaine, as told by the additional collector of the Customs, is Rs22.05 million. He also said that investigations are underway to trace his accomplices and local contact persons in Pakistan.

Meanwhile, 200 grams of heroin were recovered from Foreign Post Export Branch, II Chundrigarh Road. Talking about the seizure of the heroin, Junejo said that the drug enforcement team of Pakistan Customs inspected a surgical item of 11 kilogrammes and later found out that they are filled with heroin. Junejo said that since the equipment are made of heavy metals and the process of cutting them is still under way, so up till now they have recovered 200 grams of heroin while more is expected to be found.

He explained that the parcel of the surgical equipment was destined for United Kingdom, booked by Shah Hussain of Peshawar. Responding to a question, Junejo said that we are tracing the suspects of both the cases and will apprehend them as soon as possible.