2.19kg marijuana - concealed in Thai Tea cans - smuggling bid foiled at Karachi Airport

Karachi: The Customs Collectorate foiled an attempt to smuggle 2.19 kilograms of marijuana through Karachi Airport, recovering the drugs that had been concealed in Thai Tea cans, according to a press release issued on Thursday.

The Air Cargo Control Unit (ACCU) of the Customs Collectorate (Airports), Karachi, intercepted a suspicious international mail parcel arriving from Thailand. Upon inspection, officials discovered marijuana worth Rs67.5 million hidden inside tin cans falsely labeled as “Thai Red Tea.”

The department noted that the rise in global e-commerce has led to a significant increase in cross-border smuggling attempts, making vigilance at air cargo terminals even more critical.

“Through constant vigilance and effective interception, Pakistan Customs continues to safeguard communities from the menace of narcotics,” the statement said.

The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining strict surveillance against drug trafficking, including smuggling attempts through international mail and courier channels.

A day earlier, the Customs authorities in Balochistan foiled an attempt to smuggle a large quantity of Methadone Hydrochloride tablets, a highly dangerous and addictive drug.

According to the Federal Board of Revenue, the Customs Appraisement Collectorate, Taftan, under the Office of the Chief Collector of Customs (Appraisement), Balochistan, carried out a surprise inspection after noticing suspicious activity around a container near the border.

Upon examination, officials recovered 620 cartons containing approximately 11.16 million Methadone Hydrochloride tablets (40mg each), reportedly of Iranian origin. Officials stated that the seized drugs have an estimated market value of Rs.446 million.

Officials claimed to arrest a suspect identified as Sikandar Hayat at the scene while he was attempting to transfer the consignment into a private vehicle.

Authorities added that during interrogation, the suspect confessed the shipment belonged to Haji Amanullah, a Taftan-based importer already facing charges of misdeclaration and customs fraud. Another accomplice, Asim, managed to flee the scene.