19 February 2004	Thursday	27 Zilhaj 1424

PESHAWAR, Feb 18: The Crime Investigation Department (CID) seized on Wednesday 600kg of hashish from a double-cabin vehicle on Charsadda Road. However, alleged smugglers managed to flee.

According to an official statement, acting on a tip-off, a CID party erected barricades on Khyber Road for snap-checking of vehicles. However, a double-cabin vehicle when reached the spot instead of slowing down tried to speed away.

The police party chased the vehicle and forced it stop near Bakhshu Pul on Charsadda Road. However, occupants of the vehicle managed to flee by resorting to aerial firing and taking advantage of traffic rush on the main road, the statement said.

During search, the CID team recovered 600kg of hashish, one Kalashnikov and a pistol. The number plate of the vehicle was also found to be fake. The statement said that smugglers were the members of an international gang of narcotics traffickers and had planned to smuggle hashish to Punjab.