QUETTA, Dec 24: The Frontier Corps has seized 242kg of fine quality heroin from Azad Landi area close to Pakistan-Afghan border, some 400km southwest of here on Monday.

According to sources, a contingent of Frontier Corps conducted a raid in the Azad Landi area on a tip off and after a thorough search seized 242kg of heroin.

“The consignment was brought from the Helmund province of Afghanistan for its onward transportation to another country through Mekran coastline,” a senior FC official said.

However, no arrest could be made as the drug smugglers escaped before the FC raid. The value of the seized heroin is estimated to be over Rs40 million.

It was the first big consignment of heroin seized by Frontier Corps since the US launched airstrikes on Afghanistan. The Helmund province, which was the main producer of drug, remained under heavy bombardment during the last two months. The US airstrikes affected the supply of heroin and other drugs from Helmund to the western countries.

The price of the drugs also increased in Pakistan due to cut in supply of drugs from Afghanistan during the last three months.

“We are paying more money for heroin from the local market,” Adam Khan, a drug addict told this correspondent.