KARACHI: Pakistan Customs has intercepted over 9,000 ecstasy (MDMA) tablets valued at Rs299.8 million [$1 million] in Karachi, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) confirmed.
The narcotics were concealed inside speakers and LED lamps in a parcel arriving from Germany at the International Mail Office. The shipment had been falsely declared as “clothes, socks, and music boxes.”
“Officials of the Airport Cargo Control Unit (ACCU), Collectorate of Customs Airports Karachi, seized 9,455 MDMA tablets during a targeted inspection,” the FBR said on Friday. Authorities have launched an investigation to identify the recipients and facilitators behind the smuggling attempt.
Ecstasy, known as a “party drug,” acts as a stimulant and hallucinogen, producing energizing effects, distortions in perception, and heightened sensory experiences. It is widely misused by adolescents and young adults to reduce inhibitions and induce euphoria.
Pakistan has intensified efforts to combat illegal drugs, frequently seizing large consignments of heroin, MDMA, ice, and hashish. In recent months, Pakistan Navy seized narcotics worth Rs36 billion ($130 million) in November and a record haul of Rs271 billion ($972 million) in October under multinational maritime operations.
