KARACHI: The Pakistan Customs and Pakistan Maritime Security Agency, in a joint operation, has seized a huge quantity of narcotics worth Rs 600 million.
Pakistan Maritime Security Agency Director General Rear Admiral Jamil Akhtar said this while addressing a press conference here Monday. He said PMSA had credible information that a large quantity of narcotics would be smuggled from international sea routes. Based on this information, the PMSA deployed its ships and fast response boats at Western Maritime Region.
The PMSA Fast Response Boats chased two suspicious speed boats near Western International Maritime Boundary Line. The DG further added that one boat escaped with smugglers taking advantage of darkness. The officials during boarding of second boat recovered one-tonne narcotics having international market value of Rs 600 million.
He said it was a joint operation of PMSA and Customs Gwadar Collectorate. The narcotics had been handed over to Gwadar Customs for further legal proceedings.
Akhtar said Pakistan had a coastline of more than 1,000km extending from Sir Creek in the East till Jiwani to the West. He stated that Pakistan Maritime Security Agency area of responsibility extends till 350 Nautical Miles in the sea which makes approximately 290,000 Square Kilometres. The PMSA had a fleet of Ships, Fast Response Boats and Aircrafts for surveillance of this large area. In addition PMSA also had coastal bases at various locations, he added.
The DG informed the newsmen that to enhance capability, the PMSA was procuring eight new ships which would become part of operational fleet very soon. Moreover, efforts were in hand to procure helicopters and Fixed Wing aircrafts also.
