Rangers foil bid to smuggle ‘Indian gutka’ in Karachi

KARACHI: The Pakistan Rangers Sindh has claimed to have foiled a bid to smuggle Indian gutka into the metropolis.

Gutka is a chewing form of tobacco highly hazardous to health.

The spokesperson of the paramilitary force said they were conducting snap checking on Mauripur Road in Lyari when they spotted five pickups.

“We stopped the vans and searched them. During the search, we found 5,000 kilogrammes of gutka hidden inside them. Its estimated value is about Rs six million,” the official said.

“The gutka reached Afghanistan from India. From there, it was [brought] into Pakistan through Balochistan. When it was caught, it was being taken to Jodia Bazaar and old city areas of Kharadar from Yousuf Goth bus terminus,” he added.

The gutka has been handed over to Customs authorities for legal action.

Last year, the Sindh High Court had directed the inspector-general of police and the director of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation’s anti-encroachment department to take action against stalls selling gutka in the city.

The court had issued the directions after a petition was filed seeking complete ban on gutka and punitive action against its sellers.