KARACHI: The Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) has successfully intercepted a major smuggling attempt involving drugs and weapons disguised as electronic goods.
The operation occurred at a courier office near Nursery Stop in Karachi. According to the ANF spokesperson, the parcel, originating from Peshawar, was found to contain 1.2 kilograms of cannabis, along with five 9mm pistols, two .30-calibre pistols, and 17 magazines with 55 rounds. The contraband was cleverly concealed within battery chargers and juicer machines, complicating detection.
The parcel was booked from Karkhano Market in Peshawar for delivery to Karachi. Authorities have initiated an investigation to identify and apprehend those responsible for the smuggling attempt.
In a related case, Malaysian authorities recently seized drugs worth Rs5 billion hidden in a consignment of onions from Karachi. The shipment included 100 kilograms of cocaine and 411 kilograms of methamphetamine. An emergency communication from the Malaysian authorities to the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) detailed the discovery of the drugs in onion sacks at a warehouse in Cheras Prima, Malaysia. Five local suspects, aged between 21 and 53, have been arrested under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act.
The Pakistani authorities have also made arrests in connection with this case, including Chaudhry Nadeem, who was detained at Karachi airport while preparing to travel to Thailand, and clearing agent Amir Ali Khan. The Pakistan Customs Preventive has registered a formal FIR, and it is noted that the anti-narcotics cell inspects all consignments at the port before departure.
Additionally, a drug-smuggling attempt was thwarted at Islamabad International Airport. ANF personnel discovered 84 drug-filled capsules in the stomach of a passenger traveling to Bahrain. The capsules, which contained over half a kilogram of narcotics, included 78 filled with heroin and six with methamphetamine. The passenger, Kashif Ahmed, was detained and the capsules were recovered at Benazir Bhutto Hospital Rawalpindi. The global market value of the seized drugs is estimated in the millions of rupees.
