Hashish worth Rs1b confiscated from boat

KARACHI: The Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA) recovered a huge cache of hashish from a boat the previous night, a spokesman for the agency announced on Saturday.

The PMSA spokesman said officials of the agency and the Pakistan Navy had deployed their ships and fast response boats in the western maritime region.

He said a PMSA ship intercepted a suspicious boat in the open sea and found approximately 1,400 kilograms of hashish on it, adding that the value of the narcotic in the international market is around Rs1 billion.

The spokesman said that after successfully conducting the intelligence-based counter-narcotics operation, the seized hashish was handed over to the Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) Balochistan at the Jinnah Naval Base Ormara. He said the PMSA is maintaining close coordination with the ANF Balochistan for counter-narcotics operations and the disposal of confiscated drugs.

He said the PMSA being the law enforcement agency in the Pakistan Exclusive Economic Zone maintains its near permanent presence at sea with its ships and aircraft against possible illegal activities.

The successful operation by the PMSA resulting in the seizure of the huge quantity of narcotics is a testament to the fact that the agency and the navy are vigilant and remain committed to preventing the use of Pakistani waters for any unlawful purpose, he added. The maritime security agency’s spokesman said the PMSA and the navy will continue to shoulder their national obligation and responsibility to establish lawful order at sea.