RAWALPINDI: The Airport Security Force (ASF) on Friday foiled an attempt to smuggle narcotics to Saudi Arabia, and arrested an individual travelling for Umrah in connection with a drug smuggling attempt at the Benazir Bhutto International Airport.

A senior airport official said passengers on Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight PK-7855 to Jeddah were checking in when ASF employees spotted a bag containing suspicious items.

During their search, they recovered 1,400 grams of heroin concealed in the suitcase.

The pilgrim, Fiaz Khan, belongs to Malakand and worked at a brick kiln. He was travelling with his mother when he was taken into custody, and later handed over to the Anti-Narcotics Force for further legal action.

In a separate incident, ASF employees recovered a considerable quantity of narcotics concealed in two plastic packets, and arrested a passenger who was travelling to Riyadh from Islamabad on Friday.

According to ASF officials, passengers for Saudi Arabian Airlines flight SV727 were checking in at the airport when ASF officials spotted suspicious items in his baggage and asked to search the passenger.

ASF officials recovered two packets containing narcotics, the quantity of which was being assessed.

The passenger, identified as Mohammad Niaz, is a resident of Swat, and was taken into custody and handed over to the Anti-Narcotics Force for legal proceedings.

Published in Dawn, April 9th, 2016