Sindh Excise seizes crystal meth, heroin worth over Rs3bn

The Sindh Excise, Taxation and Narcotics Control Department seized 266 kilograms (kg) and 950 grams (g) of ice (crystal meth) and 60kg of heroin worth Rs3 to 4 billion in two separate operations.

Sindh Provincial Minister for Excise, Taxation and Narcotics Control Mukesh Kumar Chawla said in a statement on Tuesday the international market value of the recovered narcotics was estimated at Rs3 to 4 billion.

Sharing the details, Chawla said the narcotics control wing, District West, successfully foiled a drug-smuggling attempt.

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He said the operation was completed in two phases. In the first phase, a Toyota pickup Revo bearing registration number LB-8950 was intercepted at the Hub Check Post, where 240kg and 350g of ice and 60kg of heroin were recovered from secret compartments concealed inside the vehicle.

The minister further said the second operation was conducted on the identification of an arrested accused, Arif Iqbal son of Shah Muhammad, at a warehouse in Garden West, where 26kg and 600g of ice hidden in sacks of second-hand clothes were recovered.

The minister said investigation was underway to arrest more members of the group involved in drug smuggling, and emphasised that operations would continue to eliminate drugs and drug traffickers from the country.

Last week, Pakistan Customs at Jinnah International Airport (JIAP), Karachi, foiled two separate attempts to smuggle gold and undeclared foreign currency during passenger clearance at the international departures terminal.