4.48kg of drugs seized; female courier and handler arrested as cross-border probe expands
Suspects arrested in a joint Pakistan–Qatar operation when attempting to smuggle 4.48 kilogrammes of cocaine at Islamabad International Airport PHOTO: EXPRESS
RAWALPINDI:
Two suspects were arrested after a joint Pakistan-Qatar operation foiled an attempt to smuggle 4.48 kilogrammes (kg) of cocaine at Islamabad International Airport on Wednesday, officials said.
Pakistan’s Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF), working in coordination with Qatari authorities, carried out an intelligence-based operation at the airport.
Acting on shared and verified intelligence, ANF personnel intercepted a Pakistani female passenger, identified as Sehrish Bano, who was travelling to Islamabad from Sharjah via Doha.
During a thorough search of her trolley bag, officials recovered 4.482kg of cocaine. Authorities said the narcotics had been skilfully concealed to avoid detection.
During a thorough search of her trolley bag, officials recovered 4.482kg of cocaine PHOTO: EXPRESS
During interrogation, the suspect disclosed that her handler — linked to the intended recipient — was present outside the airport arrivals hall. Acting on this information, ANF arrested the handler, identified as Aamir Asadullah, along with his vehicle.
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Investigations revealed that the drug-laden bag had been handed to the suspect during transit at Hamad International Airport by a Nigerian national, on the instructions of handlers based in the United Arab Emirates.
The arrested suspects, recovered narcotics, and the vehicle have been taken into custody. Further coordinated investigations are underway in Pakistan and Qatar.
ANF officials said the joint operation reflects effective intelligence sharing and operational cooperation between the two countries in combating international drug trafficking.
ANF added that cocaine — described as a highly dangerous and expensive drug often associated with affluent circles — is being increasingly trafficked into Pakistan. Authorities said smuggling networks frequently use women as carriers, coercing or deceiving them into transporting narcotics to evade suspicion.
