Bid to smuggle arm, ammunition into Pakistan foiled at Torkham

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Customs authorities at Torkham have foiled a major attempt to smuggle arms and ammunition into Pakistan, seizing over 21,000 rounds of SMG and rifle cartridges along with other weapons and accessories.

According to officials, the suspicious consignment was detected during routine cargo scrutiny at Customs Station Torkham. An apparently empty vehicle bearing registration number TAH-027 was shifted to the NLC Import Terminal for detailed scanning. The scanned images revealed irregularities, prompting a thorough physical examination that resulted in the recovery of a large cache of arms and ammunition concealed in hidden compartments.

The seized items included 14,020 rounds of 5.56mm ammunition, 3,300 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, 1,700 rounds of SMG ammunition, one SMG weapon, 20 SMG magazines, and other assorted arms parts.

Authorities termed the incident a deliberate and organized attempt that could have posed a serious threat to public safety and national security. A case has been registered and further legal proceedings are underway in accordance with the law.

Customs officials said they are coordinating closely with other law enforcement agencies to carry out a comprehensive investigation from all possible angles to identify those behind the smuggling attempt.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026