Customs foils cigarette smuggling bid at Karachi Airport

KARACHI: The customs officials on Monday thwarted a cigarette smuggling attempt at Jinnah International Airport, Karachi, ARY News reported on Monday.

As per the customs spokesperson, a total of six Jeddah-bound passengers were arrested at Karachi airport for the alleged smuggling of 28,000 cigarette packets and other prohibited goods.

“More than 28,000 cigarette packets, worth millions, were recovered during the search,” the customs spokesperson maintained.

The Deputy Collector Customs officials stated that 1,710 packets of tobacco [moist snuff], a prohibited item, were also recovered from the Jeddah-bound passenger.

Earlier, Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport stands ready to commence the Road to Mecca Project’s operations from next week.

A meeting took place at Jinnah International Airport in Karachi to discuss the arrangements for the upcoming Hajj pilgrimage, particularly focusing on the Road to Mecca Project.

Various airport stakeholders, including airlines, ground handling agencies, Border Health Services, Airport Security Force, FIA, Customs, and Anti-Narcotics Force, attended the meeting led by Airport Manager Erfan Khan and Deputy Airport Manager Saif Ur Rehman.

The meeting focused on the procedures involved in the different stages of the Hajj pilgrims stay at the airport, starting from their arrival at the terminal to their departure, following Saudi immigration formalities in the international departure satellite area.

The Airport Manager stressed the importance of providing a seamless experience for the pilgrims and urged all agencies to treat and welcome Hajj pilgrims as honored guests.

The Deputy Airport Manager requested airlines to submit their Hajj flight schedules and aircraft types promptly for efficient parking bay planning. Border Health Services were directed to be on standby to assist the Hajj pilgrims. Additionally, security personnel were encouraged to expedite luggage checks.

The collaborative efforts of Civil Aviation and Karachi Airport administration in managing the Road to Mecca project were commended by Director Hajj Karachi Imtiaz A. Shah.

It was clarified that the Road to Mecca Project is specifically for government-sponsored Hajj pilgrims, totaling over sixteen thousand, while an additional fifteen thousand Hajj pilgrims will travel on commercial flights from Karachi Airport.

PIA will operate five Hajj flights from Sukkur and twenty-one from Quetta, all transiting through Karachi Airport. Saudi staff will have access to eight counters and equipment in the international departure satellite area.

The Hajj flights under the Road to Mecca Project will commence on 09 May and conclude on 08 June.

The agencies at Jinnah International Airport reaffirmed their unwavering commitment to providing complete support to the pilgrims.