KARACHI: Pakistan Customs has intensified its anti-smuggling operations nationwide, seized around Rs 1.57 billion worth of smuggled goods and narcotics from different parts of the country.
According to the details, Customs has confiscated heroin worth about Rs 1.2 billion at Ziarat Cross, smuggled goods worth Rs 51.6 million at the Digital Enforcement Station (DES) Kolpur, and suspected cigarette-filter raw material worth Rs 319 million at Sost Dry Port.
The Collectorate of Customs (Enforcement), Quetta, recovered 42.891 kg of heroin with an estimated international market value of Rs 1.2 billion. The drugs were hidden in specially constructed compartments in a twin-cabin vehicle. The vehicle, valued at about Rs 20 million, was also seized, bringing the total seizure value to Rs 1.22 billion. It was the third major narcotics seizure by the Field Enforcement Unit (FEU) Ziarat Cross in a short span of six weeks.
At DES Kolpur, officials seized smuggled goods worth Rs 51.6 million while checking a passenger vehicle on the Quetta-Sibi route. The seized goods included around 500 kg of Cellulose Acetate Tow, along with 30 Indian-origin Ketamine injections, Chinese salt, poppy seeds, foreign cigarettes, cosmetics and confectionery.
It was the second major Cellulose Acetate Tow seizure by DES Kolpur within 10 days. Earlier, Customs recovered about 730 kg worth Rs 73 million on October 31, 2026, bringing the combined value of the two seizures to over Rs 108 million.
Similarly, at Silk Route Dry Port, Sost, Customs recovered about 23,800 kg of suspected Cellulose Acetate Tow from an undeclared container, along with cosmetics, perfumes, mobile phone batteries and circuit breakers. The goods have an estimated market value of Rs. 75 million, while associated duties and taxes are estimated at Rs 319 million, largely attributable to the suspected Cellulose Acetate Tow.
Consequent upon recovery, legal proceedings have been initiated, and further investigation is in progress.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026