KARACHI: The Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA) has intercepted a boat in the open sea and arrested six smugglers with 12,400 bottles/cans of high quality liquor, estimated to be worth Rs60 million.

This information was shared by director general of PMSA Rear Admiral Jamil Akhtar during a press briefing held on Wednesday at the maritime security agency headquarters.

“The operation took place last night. The crew and the liquor will be handed over to the customs department for further legal proceedings. Investigation is under way to apprehend more smugglers,” he said.

The security agency, he said, was conducting operations against poaching and smuggling of narcotics on a regular basis.

“Recently, the agency seized more than 100 Indian fishing boats and held thousands of Indian fishermen in anti-poaching operations on the eastern side,” he said, adding that there was no issue of illegal fishing from the Iranian border and Gulf countries.

Highlighting efforts to strengthen the force, he said eight maritime patrol vessels would be build in collaboration with China and soon added to the PMSA fleet.

Published in Dawn, May 5th, 2016