20000101

Customs seized heroin valued at Rs 4040 m in 1999

RECORDER REPORT

KARACHI: Drug Enforcement Cell of the Customs seized 202 kilogrammes of heroin, valued at Rs 4040 million in the international market, in 127 successful seizures during the year 1999, Customs' spokesman said on Friday.

The drug traffickers, including women, arrested were 133 in member coming from 29 nationalities, predominantly from poor African countries.

The C ustoms' authorities when asked said that in none of the drug trafficking cases government officials, were found involved, whereas, the list of arrested persons, involved in organised and prolonged smuggling of heroin, distributed at a press conference of the Anti Narcotics Force on Thursday, showed that foreign customs and excise and taxation staff were arrested on the charges of smuggling of heroin from the Karachi airport.

Khalid Mehmood, additional collector of Customs, Preventive, and Dr. Abdul Qadir Memon, deputy collector, Jinnah Terminal and Drug Cell, are entrusted with the responsibility of checking smuggling of contraband through the Karachi airport.