KARACHI: Model Customs Collectorate (MCC), Exports Port Qasim, Karachi has foiled an attempt to smuggle heroin weighing 36.2 kilograms to Montreal, Canada. According to details, the action was taken on a tip-off, which revealed that some unscrupulous elements were planning to smuggle substantial quantities of heroin to Canada.

Reacting on this information, strict vigilance was maintained on the consignments being exporting through Port Muhammad Bin Qasim. On 31-10-2020, the staff of MCC Exports Port Qasim during physical examination of a consignment of M/s Great Taman Lara Sports Company bearing (NTN # 1342991) GD No.

KPPE-SB-88633 dated 29-10-2020, which was said to contain 9600 pieces of footballs of "Multi-color made of PVC machine artificial leather" detected huge quantities of drugs concealed in cartons. The staff has recovered heroin weighing 36.2 kilograms in 18 pouches concealed in the parallel sides of 58 cartons out of total 400 cartons. Later, the type of the drugs was confirmed as heroin through testing kits.

Fawad Ali Shah, Collector , MCC (Exports) Port Qasim apprised during a press conference that Four of the five accused persons have been arrested in Karachi and the FIR has been lodged before the Special Court-II, Control of Narcotics Substances, Karachi.

However, the team has been dispatched to Sialkot to arrest the prime accused. He said that the value of seized heroin is estimated to be Rs 361 million or (US$2.25 million) in the international market.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020