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105 phones recovered from passenger at Karachi airport

Dawn.com Published January 22, 2016
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KARACHI: Customs authorities at Jinnah International Airport caught a passenger on a flight from Dubai to Karachi with 105 cell phones concealed on his body in an apparent attempt to transport them illegally.

Muhammad Ali Shah who was travelling to Karachi on flight EK-600 had strapped 105 cell phones on his body to hide them, Customs Chief Media Officer Syed Muhammad Irfan Ali said.

Television footage shows customs officials taking a pair of pants off the suspect as he lifts his shirt and empties pockets of what are reported to be cell phones.

Officials pictured with the recovered cell phones. ─ Customs CMO
Officials pictured with the recovered cell phones. ─ Customs CMO
Cell phones recovered from the suspect. ─ Customs CMO
Cell phones recovered from the suspect. ─ Customs CMO
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Ahmed31
Jan 22, 2016 03:18pm
wow...takes a special kind of person to attempt something like that
Recommend 0
KW
Jan 22, 2016 03:22pm
Whats this compared to Ayan ali half million dollars money laundering case? Return Mobile phones to Mohammad ali shah now! law exists only for poor and common people.
Recommend 0
SOS
Jan 22, 2016 03:27pm
Must not have bribed the officials and look what happened otherwise I have seen people smuggling 50 + alcohol bottles, 1000 + cell phones and god knows what else.
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Nadeem Mian
Jan 22, 2016 03:43pm
Look at the picture of officials .....like they have saved the country from a disaster or big clammily ..... This poor guy would be punished harshly ................ And ....Ayyan Ali .....is on bail and soon would be declared innocent.... That is why the nations are destroyed .........
Recommend 0
Faisal
Jan 22, 2016 04:24pm
The poor guy did not bribe these custom officials. You should see these officials escorting their carriers in the arrival hall with obese high officials sitting in their office anxiously waiting for their share to be given.
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aqazi
Jan 22, 2016 04:39pm
A failed "MUK MUKA" resulted in this....local mobile markets are flooded with these 2nd hand phones.
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Acorn Guts
Jan 22, 2016 05:31pm
It's not the first time phones have been smuggled in. The only difference is that he forgot to bribe the officials this time and let's face it; poor chap ain't Ayyan ali either.
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abuzar
Jan 22, 2016 05:33pm
since you have seen and seized the lockers of PIA staffers, it is possible they have to arrest some to make fuss.
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Zhou Yuan
Jan 22, 2016 06:02pm
While appreciating the cache of used second hand cell phones,it's no big deal,the passenger could have fined plus other customs dues charged, but a group photo of customs staff for just 105 old cell phones,creating hype in news media is somewhat beyond the need.Anyway the people are more curious and interested in the case of Ayan Ali wherein 1/2 million USD were red handed recovered from model girl
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M Jamal
Jan 22, 2016 06:34pm
This news is to feed the common Pakistani that the Custom department is working ,otherwise,most of the imported items are smuggled in the country.Please spare the Awam.Please check the assets of those appearing in the photo with the confiscated mobiles. There neighbours will speak the truth about their living standards.
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Usman
Jan 22, 2016 07:16pm
Not surprised I used to see people commuting on daily basis between Dubai and Karachi doing "Kheep" business. Authorities are "well informed". They only catch when they cant claim their share.
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Sonny Afridi
Jan 22, 2016 11:27pm
Probably brought them from Dubai to be sold in Pakistan. Govt. of Pakistan imposed huge ban on importation of used A/B Grade iPhones and Samsungs and other phones. Hence he tried to hide them in such fashion thinking he'd get away. Now he lost close to $45-50 thousand worth of phones. Should have just used a freight forwarder.
Recommend 0
Dr Ahmad - Melbourne
Jan 23, 2016 01:13am
So what is new here? It happens everyday in every Pakistani airport.
Recommend 0
harsh
Jan 23, 2016 01:50am
@Nadeem Mian very truly said.
Recommend 0
harsh
Jan 23, 2016 01:52am
@Zhou Yuan these useless officials only hungry for publicity on something one will be laughing at.
Recommend 0
ak4pk
Jan 23, 2016 01:59am
They don't look like custom officers rather more like wealthy businessmen. Guess you know what I mean and you are right!
Recommend 0
Hasan
Jan 23, 2016 02:17am
Wait, something is not right. Dubai to Karachi? Emirates Airline? and he was NOT caught at DXB? Impossible. I think the Dubai Airport allowed him to go. Why not if they are 'his' property, who cares how many? is there a specific threshold of number of phones one can fly with? No. Then why is Karachi customs stopping this guy.. What crime did he make?
Recommend 0
Anne Khan
Jan 23, 2016 02:39am
@Ahmed31 A person like that couldn't be classified as 'special'! Whatever else he could be classified as!!!
Recommend 0
Anne Khan
Jan 23, 2016 02:42am
@SOS Then why don't you report these people as you see them so often.
Recommend 0
Anne Khan
Jan 23, 2016 02:44am
@Acorn Guts Name the Officials and shame them
Recommend 0
Momtaz
Jan 23, 2016 03:33am
Are cell phones so expensive in Pakistan that make people smuggle them in? Heere it costs between USD100-500 for a good model or between USD10-50 for used ones.
Recommend 0
Lost Lakha
Jan 23, 2016 06:29am
At times, change of shift of the custom officials also make the difference. And at times, its all part of planing, if the planning fails,it produces a result; sweet for one and sour for the other! May be, this is what happened in case case of Aiyan Ali! However, how about recovery of smuggled goods confiscated by the custom authorities! How is it all accounted for! Is it taken into account as Government Revenue, or source of income in the Annual National Budget! Well, there are many more such questions that could be asked in this regard; but then, who is going to answer? So, let this one be forgotten matter of the past.
Recommend 0
amir Ahmad
Jan 23, 2016 08:21am
Custom official must be awarded nishan-e- haider for their bravery and courage.
Recommend 0
AW
Jan 23, 2016 08:29am
It is so funny- why is it illegal to bring cellphones in the country? Give the man a break and give him his phones back.
Recommend 0
Prashantjain
Jan 23, 2016 08:35am
How come UAE authority allowed him to carry huge amount of cell phones in flight.The guy in great loss.
Recommend 0
Baaligh
Jan 23, 2016 08:34pm
@SOS : Custom officer's post is considered to be most lucrative due to heavy "extra" income.
Recommend 0

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