Over Rs3 million worth of Iranian fuel caught
Pakistan has made no meaningful discovery of crude oil and gas in more than two decades, increasing its reliance on expensive imported fuels to meet consumer needs. photo: reuters
The lure of quick profit continues to lure smugglers to haul Iranian petrol and diesel from the international border to Karachi traversing almost 800 kilometers of crossing dozen of checkpoints with fear of losing all the investment in one go if getting caught.
One such gang of smugglers was caught hauling a water tanker filled with Iranian diesel and petrol in separate compartments. Mochko police intercepted the improvised water supply truck at the entry point of Karachi city on the Sindh-Balochistan border.
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A team from the Mochko police station was manning the picket on a chilly night between Monday and Tuesday when the water tanker rolled in. The truck's crew insisted they were carrying water from the Hub River for sale in Karachi, however, the cops refused to 'bargain' a checked the contents.
According to the spokesperson of SSP Keamari, 12,000 liters of Iranian diesel and 1,140 liters of Iranian petrol were recovered from the tanker coming from Hub Picket. The driver of the tanker, Israr Ahmed, was arrested and the tanker was taken into custody.
The recovered Iranian diesel and petrol and the tanker and the driver will be handed over to the customs authorities after legal proceedings by the police.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 22nd, 2023.