Hashish worth Rs14.2m seized from car on Super Highway

KARACHI: The Anti-Smuggling Organisation (ASO) of the Customs Enforcement Collectorate, Karachi, foiled an attempt to smuggle drugs worth Rs14.2 million, according to Customs spokesman Syed Irfan Ali.

Customs Enforcement Karachi Collector Moeenuddin Wani received confidential information that an attempt to smuggle hashish from Balochistan to Karachi by car was likely to occur, following which he ordered Additional Collector Basit Hussain to prevent it.

Hussain formed a special team led by ASO Deputy Collector Syed Muhammad Raza Naqvi to thwart the attempt. Naqvi instructed the staff at various Customs checkpoints and the ASO’s patrolling staff to monitor the movement of vehicles coming from Balochistan and inspect suspicious ones.

A special patrolling squad signalled a suspicious Toyota Corolla (BMS-188) to stop for checking in the remote area of the Northern Bypass, but the driver sped away. After Naqvi was informed of the situation, he sought assistance from Customs Enforcement Deputy Collector Rabeel Khokhar at the Super Highway checkpoint.

Following Rabeel’s orders, the staff at the Super Highway checkpoint initiated a search for the car in the remote area adjoining the highway. The driver stopped the car before the Super Highway checkpoint and fled on foot. The car was then impounded.

During a cursory search of the vehicle, hashish was found inside a polypropene bag in the trunk. The car was then brought to the Super Highway checkpoint for a detailed inspection, leading to the recovery of 84.5kg of hashish in four plastic bags.

The total value of the seized drugs is Rs14.2 million. The car, valued at Rs5 million, was also impounded. A case has been registered, and efforts are under way to arrest the fleeing suspect. The seized hashish and vehicle have been transferred to the ASO warehouse.

Gutka seizure

National Highway & Motorway Police (NHMP) South Zone spokesman Sub-Inspector Qaiser Niazi said the Motorway Police intercepted 10 sacks of banned gutka worth Rs1million and arrested a suspect, but another suspect managed to escape.

During routine patrolling near Matiari, a rickshaw driver informed the NHMP officers that a white Honda City (BJX-462) had sped away after hitting his rickshaw. The officers pursued the car, which was found abandoned at 197-NB.

A search of the vehicle yielded 10 sacks of banned gutka and two fake number plates. A suspect was caught on the spot while another fled the scene. The arrested suspect and the seized contraband were handed over to the Khebrani police station.