PMSA seizes narcotics, arrests smugglers
Suspected drug smugglers set their boat on fire and jumped into the sea to destroy evidence, PMSA officials said. Photo: Express
The Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA) seized a considerable quantity of drugs and arrested 12 smugglers in separate operations.
Addressing a news conference at the agency's headquarters, PMSA Deputy Director General Commodore Amir Iqbal Khan said that the PMSA and Pakistan Customs thwarted attempts to smuggle cache of narcotics during a joint intelligence-based operation at sea on September 27.
A PMSA ship approached a suspicious boat on the high seas. The boat tried to escape but failed. The crew set the boat ablaze to avoid legal consequences and jumped into the sea. PMSA ship prioritised saving lives and all crew members of the suspicious boat.
The PMSA squad collected drugs thrown into the water and caught the offenders.
During the operation, eight smugglers, approximately 15kgs of crystal ice were recovered, while 1,000kgs of crystal ice was sunk with the boat. In another incident south of Gwadar, a PMSA ship stopped a suspicious boat in the Pakistani EEZ and recovered 28kgs of hashish were found in the hidden compartments.
.Published in The Express Tribune, October 4th, 2022.