A special team of Anti Smuggling Organisation and Maritime Security Agency had foiled the bid of smuggling of 1000 kg fine quality hashish worth Rs 10 million in a joint operation on Sunday. According to a press release issued from Custom Media Cell, a credible information was received that a huge quantity of fine quality hashish is being smuggled to Yemen through sea route in a launch "Al-Mustafa" painted No 10863.
It was further informed that an Yemeni national namely Hamid Mansoor Mabkhot Al-Ashmori is visiting Karachi for the safe passage of consignment. Responding over the information, the staff of Anti Smuggling Organisation in a joint operation with staff of MSA developed a strategy to foil the attempt of smuggling. The team of Pakistan Customs boarded on boat "ML Barbarosa" and MSA on "Corvette" operated in high seas. In result of three days operation the launch "Al-Mustafa" carrying contraband goods was spotted on 03-09-2009 near Cherna Island in high seas.
The suspected launch has been taken in to possession and brought to ASO (HQRs), NMB Wharf, Karachi on 04-01-2009 wherein 1000 kg fine quality hashish worth of Rs l0 million has been recovered from the concealment of the boat. Another party of Customs staff raided the Jameel Hotel at Lee Market, Karachi from where consignee of this consignment Hamid Mansoor has been arrested.
FIR in the case has been instituted and further investigations are still underway. During the calendar 2008 Preventive Collectorate apart from the other contraband goods has seized 6470 kg of charas valuing Rs 55.2 million and 92.7 kg of heroine valuing 4.6 million in last year.-PR