Pakistan Customs successfully foiled a major drug smuggling attempt in the Dera Ismail Khan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The operation resulted in the recovery of 15.2 kilograms of Crystal Methamphetamine (Ice), which has an estimated value of over 910 million Pakistani Rupees in the international market.
According to a statement released by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), the Customs Enforcement team took action during a routine inspection of a passenger bus at the IP-JCP Aman Mela checkpoint in D.I. Khan. Authorities seized the large quantity of foreign-manufactured narcotics, which had been cunningly hidden inside three specially designed inverters.
The seizure included 15 packets of Ice, with an international market value specified as 910.2 million rupees. The Customs team arrested the bus driver and conductor at the scene and registered a formal First Information Report (FIR) against them.
The statement further revealed that while the confiscated drugs were being transported from the IP-JCP Aman Mela to the State Warehouse, the Customs staff came under attack from unidentified armed individuals. The assailants opened indiscriminate fire on the Customs convoy. However, the Customs team launched an immediate and effective counter-response. Due to the team’s swift action, both the personnel and the seized drugs were secured and remained safe.
Meanwhile, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi chaired an important meeting of the Excise, Taxation, and Narcotics Control Department, where he issued directives for a strict crackdown against drug suppliers and manufacturers across the province.
CM Sohail Afridi expressed deep concern, stating, “The menace of drugs has reached universities; we cannot afford any further negligence. Concrete steps must be taken to protect the younger generation from this curse.” He declared the complete eradication of narcotics like Heroin and Ice as necessary, emphasizing the need for a coordinated strategy to counter drug manufacturing and trafficking.
The Chief Minister instructed the relevant authorities to form a joint team comprising all related departments and institutions for the operation. He clarified, “Action against sleeper cells is important, but it is essential to target the major suppliers and dealers.”
Sohail Afridi ordered a zero-tolerance policy against drugs, demanding “result-oriented action,” and stressing that the operations must be based on genuine grounds, avoiding unnecessary harassment.
He assured that the government would provide complete cooperation. A further crucial directive issued by the Chief Minister was that all seized narcotics must be destroyed to ensure they do not re-enter the market.
