LAHORE: In a significant victory against illicit trade, Pakistan Customs officials at Allama Iqbal International Airport have successfully intercepted a major smuggling attempt, seizing over two kilograms of gold worth Rs90.60 million from a passenger destined for overseas.
The high-value operat0on was conducted under the direct supervision and headship of Sima Ayaz, Collector of Customs (Airports). Her leadership in tightening surveillance across international departure terminals has been credited for the recent surge in successful interceptions at the provincial capital’s aviation hub.
On the morning of 16 February 2026, intelligence teams identified a suspicious individual, Shahzad Ahmed, as he attempted to clear security for flight PA-410. Acting on specific leads, Customs personnel conducted a meticulous search of the suspect.
The search led to the recovery of 2,058 grams of gold—comprising 15 gold bars and three raw pieces—which had been ingeniously concealed inside his socks to bypass standard electronic scanning.
The seized bullion is estimated to have a market value of approximately 90.65 million Pakistani Rupees (roughly £255,000). Following the recovery, an Initial Information Report (FIR) was formally lodged under the Customs Act 1969.
Collector Sima Ayaz has reaffirmed the department’s “zero-tolerance policy” regarding the smuggling of precious metals and currency, noting that further investigations are underway to identify the broader network involved in this criminal enterprise.
