RAWALPINDI:
Customs officials recovered gold and silver worth over Rs 880 million from two passengers who arrived from Dubai at Islamabad International Airport on Saturday.
The suspects were intercepted using scanning machines installed in the international arrivals lounge.
According to airport sources, a private airline’s flight No. 785 arrived in Islamabad from Dubai at 9 the previous day. Finding two passengers suspicious, customs officials decided to screen their luggage using the modern scanners installed in the international lounge. The scans showed the presence of gold and silver hidden inside the bags.
Upon inspection, a larger amount of gold and silver was found, amounting to a total of 20 kg of gold and 20 kg of silver. From the luggage of a passenger, identified as Abdul Rehman, officials recovered 14 kilograms of gold, 14 kilograms of silver and high-end mobile phones. From the luggage of the other passenger, Bilal Ashraf, 6 kg of gold and 6 kg of silver were seized.
Sources said the gold and silver bars had been hidden in secret compartments in the luggage. According to current market rates, the value of the recovered gold is estimated at Rs870m, while the silver is valued at approximately Rs13.4m, bringing the total value of the seized items to over Rs880m.
Both the passengers, along with the recovered contraband, have been shifted to Customs at G-9, Islamabad, where further interrogation and verification is underway. Legal proceedings will be initiated once the investigation is complete.
