Pakistan Customs officers of Islamabad Collectorate posted at International Mail Office (IMO) Chaklala Sunday seized 250 grams of heroin being smuggled to Birmingham, United Kingdom (UK), reflecting fourth consecutive seizure of heroin in recent past.
It is learnt that the different consignments have been intercepted by the customs at the IMO leading to successful seizure of heroin, pointing towards vigilance of parcels and consignments being exported through IMO. The customs staff at international Mail Office Chaklala seized 250 grams of heroin while being smuggled out of the country. The drug was concealed in 3 ladies purses which were booked by one Tahir Ali of Hasan Abdal and were sent to Birmingham, UK. The narcotics have been seized, an FIA has been lodged and investigation of the case is underway.
Details of the case revealed that recently IMO of the Model Customs Collectorate (MCC) Islamabad seized 320 grams of heroin powder at IMO Chaklala, Rawalpindi.
Sources said since assumption of charge of the post of Collector of Customs MCC Islamabad by Dr Arslan Subuctageen, the IMO has made four major seizures of heroin in a short span of time. The seizures included 700 grams, 1.75kg, 205grams and seizure of 320 grams. Total value of the said seized heroin in four cases is around Rs 35 million. During this period of 2-3 months, the manual scanning process has been improved through effective monitoring and supervision.
On Sunday, another export consignment has been intercepted at the IMO Chaklala leading to seizure of 250 grams of heroin being smuggled to UK.
In another case, customs staff has foiled another attempt to smuggle 1.750 kgs of fine quality heroin, artfully concealed in the false bottom of Aluminium Utensils being sent by post through IMO Chaklala which was booked from Hazroo, Attock and was sent to Sheffield, UK. The consignment was seized on specific information of the Collector, who formed a team of Custom Officers under Assistant Collector (AC) Customs Sadia Usman.
The team started monitoring of the consignments to be dispatched through IMO and intercepted a consignment containing huge quantity of heroin. A case under Customs Act 1969 was registered and investigations are underway by the concerned authorities.
Following detections and manual enforcement done by the IMO, the IMO has been successfully carrying out operations against the smugglers. Under the manual system, IMO is detecting the cases of heroin smuggling. Collector of the MCC Islamabad has requested the FBR to provide scanning machine for automation of the processes at the IMO Rawalpindi. Therefore, the cases of detections would also increase following installation of scanning machine at the IMO.