The Airport Security Force (ASF) and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) arrested two officials of the national flag carrier, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), and foiled a bid to smuggle 7.74 kilograms of gold worth millions of rupees from Peshawar to a foreign country.
According to FIA spokesperson, the FIA Commercial Banking Circle Peshawar and ASF jointly conducted the operation on Sunday at Bacha Khan International Airport, Peshawar, thwarting the smuggling attempt.
During the operation, two PIA employees, identified as Nasir Khan and Shahidullah, were taken into custody, and 7,740 grams of gold was recovered from their possession. Both suspects were stationed at Peshawar Airport.
Following their arrest, the suspects were presented before a court, which granted a two-day physical remand. The FIA is currently investigating the case and pursuing other individuals believed to be involved in the smuggling racket.
This is not the first time PIA staff have been implicated in smuggling and other illegal activities. Earlier in January, a PIA air hostess was arrested for attempting to smuggle mobile phones into the country. Customs officials at Lahore Airport recovered dozens of expensive smartphones from her luggage after she arrived on a flight from Abu Dhabi (PK-264).
Just two days before that incident, PIA terminated the services of two crew members — Mohammed Mumtaz and Asifa Naaz — after an internal investigation confirmed their involvement in mobile phone theft and smuggling, according to PIA spokesperson.
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