KARACHI: The Jinnah International Airport Karachi, Pakistan International Airline’s (PIA) maintenance crew on Wednesday discovered 27 kilogrammes of heroin on board a PIA aircraft. At least nine packets of the drug were recovered from hidden compartments in the toilets of the aircraft during a raid by officials of the customs department, sources told the Daily Times. The aircraft PK305 had reached Karachi from Lahore last night. It was due to fly abroad today. The customs officials sealed the aircraft.
The heroin was concealed in lavatory panels and was discovered while routine maintenance was being carried out at the PIA hangar at Karachi’s Jinnah international airport. The aircraft had arrived from Lahore on the evening of May 24, and was expected to fly onwards to Europe, but was instead sent to the hangar for routine maintenance.
“The aircraft was scheduled to go for maintenance, and was not scheduled to fly,” confirmed a PIA spokesperson, adding that he did not have any information regarding the aircraft’s flight schedule. It is pertinent to mention that this is not the first attempt to smuggle illegal drugs using similar means. Authorities are aware this method is often used by the smugglers. No arrests have yet been made.
The narcotics were confiscated by Customs and Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) officials at Karachi airport. An investigation into the incident has been initiated. The Customs officials have in the past written letters to PIA for cooperation regarding probes into heroin smuggling aboard the national carrier’s aircraft, but have not received a satisfactory reply from the airline.
