LAHORE: The Directorate of Customs Enforcement has uncovered a massive smuggling attempt involving foreign gold jewellery and silver worth over Rs106 million, seizing the contraband and arresting key suspects travelling from Karachi to Lahore.
According to FIR No 35/2025, filed by Inspector Malik Fazal Hussain Awan of the Investigation & Prosecution Cell, the operation was launched on the basis of secret intelligence received on November 16. The tip-off warned that a large consignment of smuggled gold and silver was being transported from Karachi for delivery in Lahore.
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On the directions of Enforcement Collector of Customs Muhammad Saeed Watto, a special ASO (Anti-Smuggling Organisation) team set up a checkpoint near Babu Sabu Interchange, where officers began offloading and checking incoming passenger buses.
At around 6:30pm, officials stopped a Faisal Movers bus arriving from Karachi. Two passengers attempted to slip away, raising suspicion.
During inspection, their bags were found stuffed with 318 pieces of foreign gold jewellery weighing 1,805.72 grams, silver beads weighing 7,280 grams, and silver bars weighing 27,727.47 grams. The total value of the seized items was assessed at Rs106,777,658.
The suspects identified themselves as Farhan Ahmed and Muhammad Naveed Khan, both Karachi residents. They failed to produce any legal documents for transporting the smuggled precious metals.
During interrogation, the arrested suspects revealed that the consignment belonged to a Karachi-based jeweller, Faisal, and was meant to be delivered in Lahore to a trader identified as Zeeshan Haider alias Shani, owner of Fancy Chain Centre at Rang Mahal.
Customs granted one day to produce legal import documents, but no one came forward. The seized gold and silver were sealed for assay testing, and the suspects were formally taken into custody.
Authorities have now booked four main accused, Farhan Ahmed, Muhammad Naveed Khan, Faisal, and Zeeshan Haider, under sections of the Customs Act 1969, Import Policy 2020, and related SROs for smuggling and illegal transportation of precious metals.
Officials say the smuggling network may be part of a larger organised chain, and further arrests are expected as investigation widens.
