PESHAWAR: Directorate of Customs Intelligence and Investigation (I&I) team recovered 13.500 kilogram of chars and opium which were tactfully hidden in the cavities of a Toyota Corolla car which was coming from tribal area.
Additional Collector Wajid Ali told Customs Today that information was received that a sizeable quantity of narcotics would be smuggled from tribal areas via GT road to Punjab in a Toyota Corolla car bearing registration no: LWB-5350.
He said that in pursuance of the said information, the staff of Directorate of I&I held a secret ‘naka bandi’ near Chamkani. The suspected Toyota Corolla car was spotted coming from Peshawar side, it was signaled but the driver of the car did not stop the car and tried to escape from the spot but I&I staff intercepted the vehicle along with driver of the car.
He said that the vehicle was checked by the staff of drug cell on the spot and found contraband (chars) tactfully concealed in secret cavities of the front seats of car. The motor car was then brought to the premises of the Directorate where thorough search led to recovery of 12.500 kilograms chars (gross) and 1 kilograms of opium which was seized along with carrier vehicle and driver named Abdul Hadi resident of Upper Dir district.
The estimated value of the aforementioned seized narcotics and vehicle is Rs2.9 million (narcotics Rs1.4 million and vehicle Rs1.5 million). Wajid Zaman told that a case has been registered while further investigation is still underway.
He said that I&I staff who took part in the operation includes Superintendent Mir Shab Khattak and Inspector Javed Shah along with other staff of grade 5.