LAHORE, Aug 19: Customs at the Lahore airport on Thursday foiled a bid to smuggle antiques. On a tip-off, Deputy Commissioner Fawad Hussain asked a team to check all consignments.

A consignment booked by Global Trader Liners, Imtiaz Plaza, The Mall, was scanned thoroughly. Booked for BC Galleries in Melbourne, Australia, the consignment contained thousands of years old antiques obtained from excavation of some archaeological sites like Taxila.

It contained statues of Buddha, animal carving and pottery used by ancient civilizations that existed thousands of years back in the vicinity of Taxila.

A case has been registered on the complaint of the Customs department and an inquiry initiated to unveil the people behind this smuggling bid.