Bid to smuggle 148 black scorpions from Karachi airport foiled

The rare species were being smuggled to Hong Kong via Export Cargo

KARACHI: The Sindh Wildlife Department foiled on Tuesday a bid to illegally smuggle a large number of black scorpions to Hong Kong via Karachi.

"A total of 148 black scorpions were seized during an operation," said Sindh Wildlife inspector Mukthiar Soomro. "These scorpions were kept in 40 small boxes and each scorpion has different weight."



The operation was carried out at Jinnah International Airport as the smugglers attempted to send the scorpions through export cargo.



"They were being smuggled to Hong Kong via export cargo," the officer explained. "They were booked through Pakistan Post Office in Mirpurkhas."

Investigations is underway to trace the person who tried smuggling the scorpions, the officer shared.

There is no exact idea about the cost and purpose of the smmuggling attempt, Soomro said, adding scorpions are often used for medicinal purposes.

"These scorpions will be released in the deserted such as Cholistan after completion of legal process."

Import and export of reptiles in Pakistan is illegal and such raids by wildlife departments across the country are usual.