ANF thwarts attempt to smuggle 224kgs of narcotics to Belgium

Authorities arrest three including two Afghan nationals; methamphetamine concealed in five containers

RAWALPIND:

The Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) foiled on Thursday an attempt to smuggle a large consignment of methamphetamine to Belgium and confiscated around 224 kilograms of the illegal substance. 

The drugs were camouflaged as soapstones and were skillfully concealed within the roofs and walls of five shipping containers.

The containers were being smuggled from Karachi to Afghanistan via the Torkham border with Belgium as the final destination. 

During an inspection, the ANF personnel discovered the narcotics cache and seized all the containers. The bust was made at Karachi port.

The authorities arrested three suspects including two Afghan nationals. "The three suspects, two of whom are from Afghanistan, were arrested while trying to escape," said officials. 

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Earlier in April, customs officials successfully intercepted a significant cache of illicit substances worth Rs1 billion in an operation at the Torkham border crossing.

The thorough search led to the discovery of 14 kilograms of ice and 18 kilograms of heroin concealed within secret compartments of a vehicle.

The chief collector of Customs stated that the street value of the recovered narcotics in the international market is estimated to be around Rs1 billion.