Customs foils attempt to smuggle endangered falcons worth millions

Customs officials recovered 75 falcons and a Houbara bustard during raids over two days - Tuesday and Wednesday - in Karachi’s upscale locality of Defence Housing Authority and Gizri, claiming to have foiled a bid to smuggle them abroad.

According to customs officials, the net worth of the recovered birds is Rs200 million in the international market.

Briefing media persons on Saturday, Customs collector Muhammad Saqib Saaed further claimed, “This is the first time that such a large number of endangered birds have been recovered. They [the captors] intended to smuggle the birds but our officials foiled the bid.”

Narrating the raids, he said the captors had a scuffle with Customs officials, following which the former hurled stones at the latter. However, Saeed added, the officials managed to rescue the birds and took off.

“Our officials also used aerial firing to disperse the mob,” he related. “It was a tough operation and our officials faced resistance, but [managed] to save the birds.”

A video of one of the raids, during which officials fired bullets into the air, has gone viral on social media. Also available with The Express Tribune, it shows officials in double-cabin vehicles leaving a busy scene, all the while employing aerial firing.

When enquired about the video, Saeed expressed ignorance. “I don’t know which video went viral.”

Saeed said more raids were being conducted to track down and catch those involved in the “heinous crime,” for which a case has also been registered. Naming the suspects involved in the alleged offence, he said Rasheed Gabol and Aslam Gabol had so far been identified being associated with illegal trade activity.

“[But] further investigations are underway,” he added, assuring that all those found guilty of the crime would be penalised according to the law.

In response to a question, he said he had no knowledge whether the suspects were affiliated with a political party.

Saeed also assured that the rescued birds had been kept in complete safety and his department was trying its best to look after them. “Security personnel have been deployed where they are kept.”

A deviation from the norm

Interestingly, the raids were carried out in the absence of Sindh Wildlife Department (SWD) officials, contrary to what has been the norm.

Sources privy to the development told The Express Tribune on the condition of anonymity that the SWD was not taken into confidence before the raids.

“But we [Customs officials] have conducted similar operations in the past too,” justified Saeed, when asked about the absence of SWD officials during the raids. “We have the mandate to conduct such operations anywhere.”

When approached, an SWD official said that force was not usually employed in such “sensitive” operations. “If a serious operation has to be carried out, we seek help from different agencies prior to conducting a raid,” he added.

According to Saeed, his department has been corresponding with the SWD on the matter and the rescued birds will soon be released into their natural habitat, after consultation with relevant departments.

He added that all measures would be taken to protect endangered species.