LAHORE: Customs officials at Allama Iqbal International Airport (AIIA) foiled a major attempt to smuggle fake medicines into the country, thanks to a tip-off and strict surveillance ordered by Collector Customs Airport Tayyaba Kiyani. The estimated value of the seized items is over Rs10 million.
According to officials, a notorious smuggling network was trying to sneak a large quantity of counterfeit medicines and injections into Lahore. Acting on secret information, customs staff kept a close eye on suspicious passengers and zeroed in on one arriving from Turkey.
The passenger, identified as Abid Hussain, flew in on Gulf Air flight GF766 via Bahrain from Turkey (flight GF46). Upon checking his luggage, officers found a massive stash of various fake medicines and injections hidden cleverly inside his bags.
Initial investigation led to the registration of a case against Abid Hussain and eight other suspects under various sections of the Customs Act. Officials said the smuggling ring was trying to cash in on the illegal drug market in Lahore.
Following the seizure, Customs officials have been put on high alert and instructed to leave no stone unturned in cracking down on smuggling networks.
Collector Tayyaba Kiyani reaffirmed her department’s zero-tolerance policy, vowing that such illegal activities would be nipped in the bud and strict action would be taken against those who try to play with people’s health.
The case has now been handed over for further investigation, and authorities are confident that more arrests may follow in the coming days.
