Customs foils bid to smuggle hashish to Karachi from Balochistan

Pakistan Customs personnel on Thursday thwarted a smuggling attempt involving hashish intended for Karachi from Balochistan.

According to a Customs spokesperson, Collector Customs Enforcement Karachi Basit Maqsood Abbasi received confidential information about a planned smuggling operation involving hashish concealed in cucumber bags.

Acting on this tip-off, Collector Abbasi, along with Deputy Collector (ASO) Raza Naqvi, implemented measures to prevent the smuggling. Special instructions were issued to the ASO checkpoint staff to remain vigilant and conduct thorough inspections of trucks, especially those transporting fruits and vegetables from Balochistan.

The spokesperson reported that at the Mochko checkpoint on Hub River Road, ASO staff stopped a Mazda truck (registration number NE-080) loaded with plastic bags of cucumbers. A detailed inspection revealed seven kilograms of hashish hidden within various cucumber bags. The total value of the seized hashish and truck is estimated at 12 million rupees. One suspect had been arrested, and a case had been filed under the Customs Act. The suspect had been remanded by a competent court, and further investigation was ongoing. The seized truck and hashish had been transferred to the ASO warehouse.

In a separate operation, Customs ASO intercepted two Mazda trucks (registration numbers TKA-795 and NAF-745) from Balochistan. These trucks were discovered to be carrying 9,400 liters of diesel, valued at 2.5 million rupees, hidden in specially designed compartments. The two trucks, valued at 20 million rupees, were confiscated. The smuggled Iranian diesel and the trucks had been transferred to the ASO warehouse. A case has been registered, and further investigation is underway.