Customs Foil Rs114 Million Drug Smuggling Attempt at Karachi Airport

Pakistan Customs officials at Jinnah International Airport in Karachi have intercepted two major drug smuggling attempts, worth Rs114 million. The first seizure involved 1.69 kilograms of marijuana hidden in a parcel labeled as containing “amulets.” This shipment, which arrived from Thailand, was valued at approximately Rs52 million. The second seizure involved 1,945 MDMA pills, concealed inside a parcel declared as a vacuum cleaner. The package came from Belgium and was valued at Rs62 million.

Customs officials warned that the growing volume of international mail and e-commerce shipments increases the risk of drug smuggling. Smugglers often exploit postal and courier services to traffic narcotics across borders. Despite these challenges, Customs officers remain vigilant and committed to intercepting such illegal activities. Their recent successful operations highlight their effectiveness in preventing drug trafficking and protecting local communities.

In response, Pakistan Customs stated that they would continue to enhance their surveillance measures to combat drug smuggling. The department emphasized its focus on all forms of narcotics trafficking, including through international mail channels. They assured the public that strict enforcement would be maintained to disrupt the flow of illegal substances into the country.

In a related development, the Pakistani Navy seized narcotics worth over $972 million in the Arabian Sea. The drugs were discovered on two dhow sailboats intercepted within 48 hours. The Combined Maritime Force (CMF), a naval partnership that includes 47 countries, played a key role in this successful operation. They seized several tons of crystal methamphetamine and smaller quantities of cocaine from the vessels.

The CMF operation was hailed as one of the most successful narcotics seizures to date. The vessels were identified as “having no nationality,” and the CMF did not specify their origin. The US Central Command congratulated the CMF for its continued efforts to disrupt drug and weapon smuggling across some of the busiest maritime routes in the world.

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Collector of Customs Airports, Tahir Habib Cheema, acted on a timely intelligence tip-off. The passenger’s movements were closely monitored upon arrival. Initially, he passed through the green channel without luggage but later returned to collect his bags. This behaviour raised suspicion among customs officials.

A detailed inspection of the baggage revealed the hidden narcotics. The seized drugs are valued at approximately PKR 31 million in the international market. Authorities confirmed the contraband was premium grade and packaged for trafficking.