Summary Security forces arrested eight Pakistani smugglers from different airports on Thursday.
Pakistani and Emirati authorities conducted a joint operation at three airports including Islamabad, Peshawar and Dubai Airport and arrested the gang of eight criminals.
The Pakistani authorities arrested seven people at two Pakistani airports when the accused were trying to shift 15 kilograms heroin by their suitcases and shoes. Another Pakistani national was arrested at Dubai International Airport with 104 capsules containing one kilo of heroin.
The operation foiled bid of smuggling of 16 kg heroin to United Arab Emirates (UAE) from Pakistan. One kilogram of heroin in capsules was recovered from belly of smuggler arrested at Dubai while remaining 15kg of the drug was discovered hidden in secret compartments in bags and shoes at Islamabad and Peshawar airports.
According to the police, the gang made five attempts to smuggle drugs into the UAE but all the efforts were thwarted. The fifth and final attempt ended up with the arrest of the gang members and seizure of the illicit consignment.
Police said the UAE Embassy in Islamabad received a tip off that an attempt was being made to smuggle a huge quantity of heroin into the UAE, targeting the European market. The embassy immediately informed the Pakistani authorities and sought their help to foil the attempt, with the two countries forming a joint team.
According to Lt Gen Said Abdullah Al Sahfar, undersecretary of the Ministry of Interior, the operation namely "Thank You Pakistan", initiated following a tip-off received by the UAE authorities, proved to be a very successful joint effort.
He praised the Pakistani authorities cooperation with the anti-drug liaison office at the UAE Embassy in Islamabad. They had provided detailed information that led to thwarting the smuggling attempts and the arrest of the smugglers.
