KARACHI: A family of four arriving from Dubai had their luggage thoroughly checked by vigilant customs officials at Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport on Wednesday evening, leading to the discovery and seizure of smuggled electronic goods worth approximately 34 million rupees.
The incident occurred around 5:30 PM when the passengers landed via Flydubai Flight FZ-335. Acting on credible information, the customs team placed the flight under pre-scanning and carefully examined the family’s belongings, uncovering a substantial quantity of concealed electronic items.
The passengers, identified as Syed Anwar and Zarqa, both residents of Karachi, were traveling with their children under the guise of a bonafide family, but the scanning process revealed a different story altogether.
Upon detailed examination, officials recovered an astonishing array of brand-new gadgets, including forty-seven iPhones spanning multiple models such as the latest iPhone 17 Pro Max and iPhone 13, along with four Google Pixel 10 Pro phones.
The haul also included six MacBook Pro laptops and twenty-six additional laptops of popular brands like Victus and HP.
Apple enthusiasts would recognize the three Apple Watch Series 11, five iPads, five Mac Mini units, and five sets of third-generation AirPods Pro found in the luggage. Most surprisingly, the passengers were also carrying a staggering two hundred and sixty-seven Kindle Paperwhite e-readers of the twelfth generation.
The successful operation was carried out under the supervision of Collector Sadia Sheraz, with Assistant Collector Khizer Faiz playing a key coordinating role.
The on-ground examination and recovery were executed by a team of preventive officers including Asfandyar, Haider Ali, Waqas Qaim Khani, and Rizwan Mehboob, whose alertness and professionalism ensured that the smuggling attempt did not succeed.
All seized goods have been formally taken into custody under the relevant provisions of the Customs Act, 1969, and an FIR has been lodged against the passengers as per applicable law.
Pakistan Customs reaffirmed its commitment to remaining vigilant against the menace of smuggling and protecting the national exchequer from such illegal activities.