RAWALPINDI:
Customs officials recovered gold and silver worth over Rs880 million from two passengers arriving from Dubai at Islamabad International Airport on Saturday.
The suspects were intercepted with the assistance of 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 9am on the previous day. Finding two passengers suspicious, Customs officials decided to screen their baggage using the modern scanners installed in the international lounge. The scans indicated the presence of gold and silver concealed inside the bags.
Upon inspection, a large quantity of gold and silver was recovered, amounting to a total of 20 kilograms of gold and 20 kilograms of silver. From the baggage of one passenger, identified as Abdul Rehman, officials recovered 14 kilograms of gold, 14 kilograms of silver, and high-end mobile phones. From the baggage of the second passenger, Bilal Ashraf, 6 kilograms of gold and 6 kilograms of silver were seized.
Sources said that the gold and silver bars had been concealed in secret compartments within 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 passengers, along with the recovered contraband, have been shifted to the Customs Cell in G-9, Islamabad, where further interrogation and verification are underway. Legal proceedings will be initiated upon completion of the investigation.
