Heading to the Gulf: Nine drug mules caught at IIA

Suspects included a couple who had ingested 57 capsules containing heroin

RAWALPINDI: The Anti-Narcotic Force (ANF) Rawalpindi on Wednesday claimed to have arrested nine drug mules at the new Islamabad International Airport (IIA), including a Saudi Arabia-bound couple.

According to the ANF, its officials arrested Adam Khan, a resident of Peshawar and Farial Bibi, of Upper Dir, at IIA on suspicion of carrying narcotic-filled capsules.

The suspects were taken to Benazir Bhutto Hospital (BBH) in Rawalpindi for what ANF said was “delivery of capsules.” The suspects were given laxatives to recover the ingested drug-filled capsules.

Drug smuggling plot busted at new Islamabad airport

Ultimately, around 57 heroin-filled capsules, weighing 390 grammes, were recovered from the bowels of Adam and Farial, the statement said.

Another resident of Peshawar, Muhammad Younis, was intercepted at the IIA on suspicion of carrying drug-filled capsules in his guts. He too was admitted to the BBH where doctors made him discharge 98 hashish-filled capsules weighing 560 grammes. He was travelling to Doha. Meanwhile, the force arrested Bannu residents, Fahad Khan and Savad Khan, at the IIA and recovered 2.2 kilogrammes (kg) of hashish from their bags. They were travelling to Abu Dhabi.

Separately, ANF arrested Habibur Rehman, a resident of Upper Dir, at the IIA and recovered 335 grammes crystal methamphetamine from inside his trolley bag. He was also travelling to Saudi Arabia.

Another man lost his bid to smuggle drugs outside Pakistan when the ANF arrested Hikmat Khan, a resident of Kohat, at IIA with 600 grammes of crystal methamphetamines, which was hidden in his bag. He was travelling to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.



Operations in twin cities

Separately, the ANF in Rawalpindi recovered 3.9kgs of hashish from Usman Khan and Abdul Rehman opposite near Taramri Chowk.

The force intercepted a car near the Tarnol Railway Crossing on GT Road. During a subsequent search, they recovered 3kgs of heroin concealed in the boot of the car. Two of the occupants of the car were identified as Fazal Wahab and Ibrahim Shah, residents of the Khyber Agency. They were arrested.

In another operation, ANF Rawalpindi intercepted a Toyota van near the Chungi 26 Bus Stop and recovered 12kgs of hashish which had been concealed in secret cavities of the vehicle. A passenger, identified as Mian Khalid Pervez, a resident of Islamabad, was apprehended during the operation.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 7^th, 2018.