KOHAT, Aug 5: A gang of smugglers forcibly crossed the security barrier at the Kohat tunnel toll plaza after holding its staff hostage, Dawn learnt on Sunday.

A security guard at the toll plaza said that as soon as security personnel stopped a truck for routine checking, six armed persons jumped out of another truck and began shooting in the air. They snatched arms from  the security guards and made five trucks and a coaster bus - allegedly loaded with arms, ammunition and electronic goods - pass through the toll plaza.

He said that a customs mobile, which was parked only a few yards away from the plaza, did not chase the smugglers.

Sources told Dawn that daily five to six trucks, loaded with contraband items and piloted by an 86 model Toyota car, cross the tunnel without being checked. The government had failed to form an anti-narcotics force and construct customs check posts on the new Indus Highway route for unknown reasons.

The toll plaza staff said that it was not their duty to conduct checking of suspicious vehicles and the said incident happened because one of the staffers, who had been keeping an eye on the smugglers for a long time, tried to stop them to put an end to the illegal practice.

It is interesting to note here that the smugglers paid the toll of all vehicles before escaping from the scene.

The contractor of the toll plaza refused to lodge an FIR arguing that it was not his concern to keep a check on smuggling.

The in charge of the toll plaza, who is a retired air force officer, had also refused to lodge an FIR against the smugglers.

Dawn has learnt that the trucks were stopped in Lachi, Karak and Bannu districts by police officials, but were later allowed free passage.