Is such a quantity really smuggling? I'm surprised.

This is just one case which was accidentally detected. PIA crew staff on overseas flights are totally involved in smuggling from tablets to narcotics and even some big smugglers from KP got them posted on overseas flights to work for them. PIA management is fully aware of this racket but are helpless in the presence of hawks under whom they are surviving.

@concerned 37 smart phones & 3 tabs (40 in total) carried by one person, does it seem fair to you?

Ah the temptation! Why on earth we fall for it so often?

PIA's staff are millionaire. How his colleagues let him arrested? It is different altogether in Karachi airport.

Poor guy landed without proper protocol I assume otherwise in this country you can bring any quantity of anything but simple you should do your homework .

Anything brought without paying duties is smuggling .

Bull ... Poor guy just tried to make a few bucks. 40 smart phones is not smuggling !! I hope he is just asked to pay the Taxes and the fines for not declaring the stuff.

These crew members only bring shame to the nation. In a privileged position flying the colour of the nation, he should be punished to the fullest extent of the law. PIA and its employees have done nothing for the nation. Why do we need it?. No other national airline has done so much damage to the nation it represents.

@PIA crew, air hostess r always involved in these type of activities, cigarette, phone, tablets and narcotics and never served passenger, this is the reason Pakistani travelling other airlines. PIA graph going down day by day.

The report does not say how many perfumes, make up products, fabrics over and above permissible were found along with smart phones. It is a know fact that many do these things as side business.

At first I thought UK authorities had arrested him, where does this kind of arrest happen in our customs apart from poor people of the country?

if he had smuggled in large quantity ,he must not have been arrested...less quantity is the offence he did !!! ;)

Probably these were secondhand devises as new are expensive than Pakistan. There is a big discreet market of stolen smart devices in the UK. This crew member must be new in business. It is so common such items are smuggled in the country in passenger's luggage in collaboration with the custom's officials. A term "khaipia" is well known at the airports where a passenger is a frequent and continuous traveler. Khapia will take a flight to any country and will collect the consignment and will take the first returning flight He can easily pass through the Customs and FIA. His face is very much recognisable by the airport staff but due do good connections can get away and ready for the next flight, next day.

We must look into the root cause what led them to do this, the obvious reason is when you are poorly paid.

He should have negotiated with the customs officials before carrying out the plan.

This is only for PR. By arresting him and putting all the focus they "let" other big fish go scot free.

@concerned Even one item can be a smuggling, unless you have bigger ideas.

It seems there would always be someone in the PIA with very bright ideas to go ahead with, and some stupid notions to get caught by.

'Smart' phones are not meant for 'idiots'.

This is such a petty crime, its not an issue for any news. The biggest crime is, how on earth p i a is allowed to operate the way it is currently functioning. Its the worlds mother of circuses.

"great.people go fly with". As a Pakistani feel shame for such activities by PIA staff.

We are a nation bent on self-destruction. Why can't we think and do straight. Where is our love for our DHARTI MAA,N? How many quids this act would have earned him. Just shows our complete lack of unprofessionalism and unpatriotism. Wound,nt have done if he knew that he will for sure loose his job for this disgraceful act. Punish him as well as who ever comes for his help. Give every one this message and Pakistan will rise.

This is nothing, what I have seen and experienced, where PIA traffic crew members in foreign countries openly asking bribes for letting extra baggage go unpaid, causing millions of dollar loses to airline every year. These people get paid in dollars far more than their local brethren in Pakistan but habit of taking bribe is so prevalent no matter where they are under the banner of PIA. All of this above right under the nose of their station chief!

@Thompson or greed

In fact Government of Pakistan is guilty, imposing high duty. Too high duty is unconscious, illegal by Islamic rule also encourages undesired behavior. For example 25% tax on phone call, 75% tax on petrol, 85% tax on CNG, 250% tax on auto, we can go on and on. This is hindrance for general user, businessman and finds illegal. Pakistan should have a law, put cap sealing on tax maximum of 5% on any item. Lets get to healthy business practice and give equal opportunity in business.

Anyone who has travelled from Middle East to Karachi airport even once in his life knows well that there are least 20 carriers or 'Khaipya' on each flight who carry the labour cards showing them as employees of exchange houses in the middle east. Most of them make at least 15-20 round trips a month, carrying $10,000 from Pakistan to the Middle East and Liquor, Cigarettes, Perfumes, Electronics and Make-up items. They are usually let go without checking from the green channel or as I have seen with my own eyes, as soon as you enter the immigration area, customs representatives are waiting for them, and swiftly take them through the side door. I met a carrier in my last flight to Karachi who offered me a beer can for PKR equivalent of 250 onboard. I also met him outside the airport where he proudly told me 'See i told you, i will be outside much faster than you, even though you only carry hand luggage, while i carry two bags full of 'Saamaan'.

But why smuggle in when the prices of smart mobiles and tabs in Pakistan are almost similar to the prices of similar items in the International market.

PIA crew are known offenders and known as such around the world. But then why blame them? We all know well ALL appointments at PIA are on ad hoc basis and usually filled by politicians when in power. So naturally these people are not service staff by profession but cronies jostling for positions. In the end, this is what you would get crew found out in drug smuggling, human smuggling and what not who knows. You can't even go after politicians because the whole system needs purging and how much and what will you change? So is Imran right when he says about current system? I like to think so.

Are these custom officials aware some day some one will try to bring bomb to a plane? Or maybe they don't care? So what then you make of this society? Godlessly bigots? A country is not run like a flat structure but in vertical ways. The people at bottom look up to people at top for model behaviors. Need I say more?

Greed and Temptation Always Goes Together. Both are the Hallmark Traits of "SATAN" and our nation has been totally engulfed in it.

@vision It was a fair game as the Custom department had an eye on those phones for quite some time. Obviously the confiscated phones won't be produced in the courts, just the empty boxes.

I have about 15 phones sitting in my basement. Every 2 years or so when I renew my contract I get 4 new phones and the old ones go in the basement. If a family member or friend came and wanted those phones they would be theirs. If that family member or even friend took those phones, how would that constitute smuggling. Phones in UK and US are free or dirt cheap when you sign up with a contract. People have old phones laying around collecting dust. This poor employee was used as a cover for someone smuggling something bigger.

Yet another blunder by PIA and its staff.

PK-786 ... That's why Pakistan is under the curse of God

Put him in jail for next 37 yrs. Confiscate his assets ( property) And bank accounts. Make him an example for future smugglers Ado one should find out , who was financing it?

And, this is national news because....?

This airline need to be closed as it has done the most damage to our nation. It's employees are sifarishi and most irresponsible people. This includes everybody from top to bottom.

@Thompson. Believe me even if their pay is a million rupees per week, the greed and selfishness will make them do this stuff over and over again.

PIA is a reflection of Pakistan. Whatever is happening in Pakistan is being reflected in PIA. Just look at the corruption,malpractices, sifarshi culture etc going on at the Top level and all govt agencies. How can u exclude PIA which is also controlled by the same government. If you want to change culture of PIA and other govt. controlled companies, get them out of vicious govt.clutches.

Okay the poor guy bought 37 phones and brought them to Pakistan. Why was he arrested? He should have been charged customs on the phones. And why did they confiscate 5,000 pounds of his money? I just don't get it! I think the real reason would be declined to pay a bribe and decided to pay customs!

@concerned What a 'simpleton' you are! Yes, it is not smuggling..he was just bringing it to give away as gifts!

Today we are celebrating Pakistan's Birthday! People like those ruined and sold the country since after the demise of Liaquat Ali Khan, don't know whether we pray for the country or offer FATEHA. Greed of the nation is increasing day by day, at one side there is huge unemployment and on the other side those who are employed use unfair means to meet their desires. Standards and priorities has been change, and this change were not imposed we developed it ourselves. Never shied, never been feel guilty and behave normal while doing silly things even after exposing in public. We lost our dignity, honesty, faith, respect, wisdom, hope, belief, trust in our own and hardworking, It is only ALLAH who is safeguarding the country, the country of nation whose god is money, faith in cheating, target is status (so called), endeavor to climb on others' shoulders, letting other down. We are rich in history and are poor (attitude/priorities). Quaid-E-Azam was a great very great leader; we need to focus on him. His struggles (restless), established his image, develop confidence in public, set goals and making a road map, let other people to come and follow him and in last how to accomplish. If we give something to society in return get more than that, may Allah give our nation a true wisdom.

This guy is positioning himself to be the MD or Chairman of PIA .

Every body, control yourself. A poor guy, who was not well connected ( Otherwise he will not be arrested ) got caught. May be he was set up, because he would not play the game properly. After all Customs were Waiting for Him ( They were already informed ). Now , how quickly we forget, Presidents, prime Ministers, Ministers, senators, and Chiefs of various departments, who have stolen Billions of dollars, from the Pakistan Treasury, who are roaming free. PIA, Railways, Communications, Minerals, Agriculture and all other sectors in the Country. Show mw , if there is a department, where there are no thieves, intact, stealing, as we read this note. Let this poor man stand in line for punishment. Start with the one's who have stolen the most. Let them be punished first.You will find them on the top, or abroad.

PIA-- POOR INTERNATIONAL AIRLINE