KARACHI: In a bid to contain all kinds of smuggling by air, the Pakistan Customs is establishing ‘Karachi Air Cargo Control Unit’ at the Jinnah International Airport Karachi soon, it is learnt.
Sources told Customs Today that the government has requested the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Pakistan to help establish the Air Cargo Control Unit at the airport as the first pilot unit in Karachi.
The Karachi air cargo control unit will be mandated to profile cargoes entering/exiting the airport in order to minimize the risk of air consignments being exploited for smuggle of illicit drugs, precursors, arms and ammunition and other sorts of illegitimate goods, sources added.
According to sources, Pakistan Customs, has seized more than 50 tons of cannabis, 3 tons of heroin and 30 tons of chemical precursors since 2008 and the establishment of the separate air cargo unit would prove fruitful for the authorities to stop smuggling.
