SIALKOT: The Customs Anti-Smuggling Organisation (ASO) has arrested the principal suspect, allegedly involved in drug trafficking, from Sahiwal with the cooperation of the local police.
A few days ago, the Sialkot ASO Zone-II arrested a driver named Pervez Ahmed near River Chenab Bridge, Wazirabad following the recovery of 13.5 kilogram of opium from his vehicle. Superintendent Naeem Khan, Inspector Muhammad Mansha and other members of the ASO team foiled the drug smuggling attempt on credible information.
Sources said that the driver disclosed during interrogation that he was an employee of a courier company, Mehran Courier Company. He also revealed that a person named Abdur Rehman, a resident of Sahiwal district, was involved in narcotics smuggling since long. He also unveiled that different airports, including Sialkot, Faisalabad and Multan airports, were used to smuggle narcotics abroad. However, the attempt to smuggled 13.5kg opium abroad was foiled by the Sialkot ASO successfully. The accused also informed that the consignment was booked at General Bus Stand Lahore by the courier company.
ASO Zone-I and II incharges Assistant Collector Fahad Bashir Choudhary and Deputy Collector Waheed Anwar Abro discussed this matter and informed the Collector Ahmed Reza Khan about the revelations made by the accused driver.
The officers also asked the collector to contact higher authorities of local police for cooperation in a raid to arrest Abdur Rahman from Sahiwal. The police agreed to take joint action and raided the house of the culprit.
During raid, the officials arrested Abdur Rehman and also recovered 2.5kg opium from his possession. The ASO registered a case against him under Report No.7267 and FIR No.4/2016. The ASO has got his physical remand for four days from the court of judicial magistrate.
When contacted Deputy Collector Abdul Waheed Abro, he told that an efficient information system has been developed to keep an eye on the smugglers.
Assistant Collector Fahad Bashir Chaudhary told, “We are working with a responsible and best collector who always extends his support for eliminating smuggling in the region”.
