Inter-provincial drug paddler family held
PHOTO: AFP/FILE
The police arrested a man, his son, and daughter-in-law involved in inter-provincial drug trafficking. Amidst the ongoing crackdown against smuggling across the country, the police recovered 17kg of hashish, which had been transported to Karachi from Hub, Balochistan.
As per the spokesperson, the individuals arrested for drug trafficking were identified as Dil Murad, his son Syed Jan, and daughter-in-law Surriya.
The arrested family members, coming from Turbat, Balochistan, had reached the bus stand at Baldia Town's Yousuf Goth from Hub River Road with the drugs. The suspects intended to transport the drugs to the Malir area by riding in a rickshaw.
SHO Site A police station Khalid Rafiq intercepted the rickshaw near Siemens Chowrangi and conducted a search based on a tip-off. This led to the discovery of 20 packets containing high-quality hashish. The police promptly arrested the trio and filed a case against them under the Anti-Narcotics Act. Further investigation is underway.
ANF operation
The Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) has seized 438kg of drugs and arrested nine suspects in a series of operations as part of its ongoing efforts to combat drug trafficking.
According to an ANF spokesperson, the operations in Balochistan led to the seizure of 405kg of drugs.
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Giving the breakdown, he said 289kg of morphine concealed for smuggling was recovered in an uninhabited area of Kuchlak, 66kg of heroin was found hidden in the hilly terrain of Mastung, and 50kg of hashish intended for smuggling in Panjgur was also seized.
At Faisalabad International Airport, a foreigner arriving from Dubai was arrested, and 60 capsules filled with cocaine were retrieved from his stomach.
In addition to these operations, 12kg of hashish and 600grams of opium were seized from a motorcycle rider near Shalimar Town in Lahore.
Two suspects were found in possession of 350 ecstasy pills in Rawalpindi, and 756 grams of opium was discovered in a vehicle near Lalak Jan Stadium, Gilgit.
Moreover, 6kg of hashish was recovered from two motorcyclists near Industrial Road, Peshawar, 2kg and 400 grams of hashish was confiscated from a suspect in Hayatabad, Peshawar, and 10kg of hashish was seized during two operations in Zakhakhel, Khyber district.
Female passenger held
Customs authorities at Jinnah Terminal apprehended Saima Ali, a female passenger arriving from the US via Qatar, as she attempted to exit through the green channel.
Acting on suspicion, officials questioned her about the goods she carried, but she denied any prohibited or dutiable items. Subsequently, a scan revealed iPhones, MacBooks, gaming laptops, vitamins, ladies’ branded shoes, and handbags in her luggage.
The confiscated items, worth over Rs14 million, carry duty and taxes amounting to Rs5 million.
The passenger is now under investigation and faces legal action under the Customs Act. Customs officials caution international travellers against carrying goods for unrelated persons to prevent unintended legal consequences.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 19th, 2023.