21kg heroin recovered from PIA’s London-bound flight

ISLAMABAD: The Vigilance Cell of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), in a crackdown at the Benazir Bhutto International Airport (BBIA), Islamabad, recovered a heavy consignment of heroin from PIA's London-bound flight on Monday.

PIA sources said 21 kilogram of heroin was concealed in the catering cabin. Earlier, the UK law enforcement agencies recovered 27 kg of heroin from PIA's flight at the Heathrow Airport last week.

A spokesman of PIA said the airline had taken stern action to keep its fleet free from smuggling of narcotics or other contraband items. He said the initiative was taken in the light of recommendations made by the Central Operational Committee formed by the Aviation Division who had ordered to thoroughly search all aircraft immediately for any concealed contraband items.

He said four aircraft were planned to be searched on Monday, out of which one aircraft destined to fly to London from Islamabad PK785, was thoroughly checked and 20-kg heroin was recovered.

The combined search was made by the ANF along with PIA security and other agencies. The screening check was conducted well before the flight departure and boarding of passengers. The boarding of passengers was done after the aircraft was cleared and the flight departed after a delay of two hours. The matter is now under investigation by the concerned agencies.

Adviser to Prime Minister on Aviation Sardar Mehtab Ahmad Khan has ordered speedy investigation to catch culprits who will be dealt with according to law. Meanwhile, an investigation team has been formed under Hussain Asghar, Additional IG Punjab Police, to unearth this racket, the PIA spokesman concluded.