KHYBER: Smuggling of sugar to Afghanistan in large quantities has been going on for quite some time with connivance of the official authorities, sources confirmed on Monday.

They told Dawn that an organised gang of smugglers was behind the unlawful practice, hiring daily wagers and porters for the purpose. They said at daytime, sugar was taken across the border in shopping bags, and at night, vehicles were also used for its smuggling.

Requesting anonymity, some local traders said the illegal export of sugar to Afghanistan had been going on for many years.

They said they had brought the issue into the notice of officials of departments concerned, but no action was taken against the people involved in the illegal practice.

Say matter brought into officials’ notice many times

Meanwhile, the Khyber district administration on Monday seized over 20,000 kilogrammes of sugar during a raid on private warehouses in Torkham.

Assistant commissioner, Landi Kotal, Irshad Momand told Dawn the sugar was packed in 441 bags of 50kg each.

He said four warehouses in Bacha Maina residential compound, where the sugar was concealed for onward smuggling to Afghanistan, were sealed.

He said he was on a routine checking of bazaars to keep vigil on hoarders and profiteers when he spotted some porters at Torkham border carrying sugar in plastic bags to Afghanistan taking cover of the trade goods vehicles.

He said on a tip-off a raid was then conducted on four warehouses in Bacha Maina area, where sugar was stored and later given to people of different ages in shopping bags to take the commodity to Afghanistan.

Mr Momand said though there was no one present at the warehouses when raid was conducted, adding he had called those operating the facilities to his office on Tuesday (today) to explain the reason behind stocking sugar.

The raid was conducted a day after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had ordered strict action against sugar smugglers in order to bring down its prices in local markets.

ARRESTED: Residents in Shah Kas locality of Jamrud apprehended a young man impersonating as a police officer and handed him over to police.

Officials said the accused, Attaullah used to extort money from them in police uniform. They said a pistol and some cartridges were also recovered from him.

The Khyber DPO has initiated an investigation to unearth as to whether there was someone in his force facilitating the accused.

It was also learnt the police had sealed a shop in Jamrud Bazaar and arrested its owner for allegedly making fake police service cards.

Published in Dawn, April 18th, 2023