Three 'smugglers' detained at Jinnah international

Customs recover 600 grammes of heroin, 1.3kg gold jewellery

KARACHI: Customs officials claimed on Monday to have foiled a smuggling bid by arresting a Nigerian passenger. According to the Customs spokesperson, 600 grammes of brown heroin powder were recovered from a Nigerian passenger, Kelechi Franca Earnest, who had a Nigerian passport and was travelling to Nigeria on Turkish Airlines flight TK-709.

Customs staff posted at the international departure section of Jinnah International Airport, Karachi profiled her and stopped her for examination at the Customs counter, which led to the recovery of the drugs. The spokesperson said that the recovered narcotics were confirmed as heroin after being tested. The passenger, along with her passport, other travel documents and luggage, has been detained and a FIR has been registered, the spokesperson added.



Separately, approximately 1.3 kilogrammes of gold jewellery was recovered from a passenger who travelled to Karachi Monday morning on a Fly Dubai flight. The Customs spokesperson said that the passenger was stopped by the staff at the green channel to confirm if she was in possession of any contraband, to which she replied in the negative.

She was directed to the scanning machine for a body search, which led to the recovery of gold jewellery, the spokesperson said.

He said that the recovered jewellery was packed in three small packets concealed on her person, adding that she was travelling with her husband, who was also stopped, scanned and went through a body search but nothing was recovered from his possession.



The spokesperson estimated the value of the recovered jewellery at Rs5.5 million. The couple was taken into custody with their passports while further investigation is under way.