Bid to smuggle iPhones foiled at Karachi airport

KARACHI:

Pakistan Customs officials deployed at Karachi's Jinnah International Airport on Monday foiled a bid to smuggle iPhones worth millions into the country. 

Three people were arrested by airport authorities for the attempt. The arrests were made on the basis of an earlier tip-off. 

The information revealed that pilgrims returning for Umrah will attempt to smuggle the phones. Authorities tightened security at the airport and conducted strict checking of passengers and their luggage. 

The pilgrims were returning from an Emirates Airline flight and were trying to exit through the green channel when they were stopped and searched. 

The customs collector said organised gangs task pilgrims to smuggle iPhones with the lure of cheaper tickets and monetary benefits. The recovered phones include iPhone 15 Pro Max and 14 Pro Max models among others. 

Earlier, Customs seized contraband worth Rs61.8 million during a major operation at the Jinnah International Airport and took four passengers into custody who brought the consignment from Dubai, UAE.

The seizures included 27 laptops, 5kg of cosmetics, 36 iPhones, 37 watches, 65 iPads, 1,250 computer RAM modules, 472 cartons of foreign cigarettes, 59 Apple pencils, 97 Airpods, and 21 MacBooks - all of which were being smuggled into the country without the payment of duty and taxes.