KARACHI: Anti-Smuggling Organization (ASO) of MCC Preventive Karachi has foiled an attempt to smuggle narcotics and seized the goods weighing 2.6 kg, worth Rs26 million. Two persons identified as Shakoor and Naeem were also arrested.
Information was received through Collector Saquif Saeed to the effect that one Suzuki Bolan Van arriving from Hub area towards Karachi carrying narcotics, will pass through Rais Goth instead of RCD Highway.
On the instructions of Additional Collector Haroon Waqar Malik, Deputy Collector Muhammad Asim Awan mounted surveillance on the linked road near Rais Goth. The suspected vehicle was spotted and stopped, the driver of the vehicle introduced himself as Shakoor S/o Dad-ur-Rehman and other person sitting beside him introduce himself as Naeem S/o Ghulam Nabi.
Both the persons were asked about the presence of any concealment, or contraband goods in the vehicle, to which they replied in negative and further told that they were coming from Hub area and proceeding towards Karachi.
As there existed specific information regarding the presence of narcotics in the said vehicle, therefore search of the vehicle was carried out and two suspected bags/ packets (one Blue colour shopping bag and one stitched Dark Brown cloth bag) were found concealed under the seats.
Upon initial inquiry, the driver Shakoor S/o Dad-ur-Rehman stated that these bags were given to him by a person at Hub for delivery in Karachi. The goods were brought to the ASO HQ and detailed search of the bags led to recovery of 1.8kg of brown heroin powder, and 0.75Kg of Opium Alkaloids (Crystal). Total value of the seized narcotics is Rs26 million. The vehicle worth Rs1.0 million was also seized.
FIR is lodged and investigations are underway.
ANF, at QICT, also recovered 700kg of heroin powder and 80kg of Opium from a container booked from Sahiwal to Belgium. the value of the goods is Rs7 billion.
Sources said that there had been a surge in the smuggling and movement of narcotics, as certain elements were trying to take advantage of the global lockdown and leniency of Customs authorities across the world. Sources maintained that smuggling of these goods abroad was increasing and attempts were being made to smuggle narcotics abroad in the garb of seafood.