Two arrested for Rs5m heist at FIA warehouse

Suspects including ex-FIA official intercepted at Mandra police check post

RAWALPINDI:

The Mandra police claimed on Sunday to have seized case property worth millions of rupees from two suspects including a former Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) personnel.

The accused were absconding after stealing local and foreign currency worth Rs50 million, mobile phones, wireless sets, Turkish cards and other items from the warehouse of the FIA Corporate Banking Circle headquarters. They were taken into custody at the Mandra toll plaza. Among the two arrested suspects is an FIA officer who was dismissed from the service.

According to FIR No 286/24 registered with the Mandira police station, cops signalled the suspects to stop at the toll plaza, but they accelerated their vehicle. Policemen began chasing the suspected vehicle and managed to stop it near LRBT Hospital. Cops searched the vehicle to find seven parcels of stolen property cases, mobile phones, wireless sets, fake number plates, service cards, temporary airport entry permits, national identity cards, ATM cards, mobile SIMs, masks, Afghan citizen cards and Turkish cards.

During the preliminary investigation, suspects Saad Anwar (the ex-FIA official) and Muhammad Hamza confessed to stealing foreign currency and goods. They also involved Abdullah Khan, Mehtab, Ali and Hassan in the crime.

Police teams have been formed to arrest four runway accomplices. The FIA authorities have also been informed about the recovery of stolen case property.

Police sources said that more than Rs50m worth of domestic and foreign currency was present in the seized parcels. A senior police officer, who was not authorised to speak as the investigation is continuing, said that other FIA officials were also involved in the heinous crime, adding the information was being shared with the Punjab government to bust the entire network. The officer added that the police would also seek help from the FIA and other law enforcement agencies in investigating the case.

The arrested accused would be produced before the court for physical remand, he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 3^rd, 2024.