KARACHI: In a joint counter-narcotics operation on Friday, the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA) and Pakistan Customs successfully acted on intelligence-based rep­orts to catch two fishing boats transporting narcotics at sea.

The boats, Al-Moham­madi and Al-Mobeen car­rying 16 crew members, were apprehended when a huge cache of narcotics, including 2,410kg of hashish, 133kg of brown crystal and 181kg of ice crystal was recovered from them.

It was all kept hidden inside specially constructed secret compartments in the boats.

The value of the narcotics in the international market is estimated to be Rs14.66 billion.

The seized narcotics were handed over to Pakistan Customs for further legal proceedings.

The act shows that despite the prevailing situation the criminals are active and carrying out their nefarious designs while the PMSA is more vigilant to counter them even in this Covid-19 pandemic and remains committed in preventing the use of Pakistan’s mari­time zones for any unlawful act/purpose.

Published in Dawn, May 2nd, 2020