KARACHI, July 16: A Turk, four Africans and two Pakistanis were arrested at the Karachi airport for their alleged involvement in smuggling more than six kilograms of heroin powder.

An official of the Customs Drug Enforcement Cell said on Tuesday that a Turkish man Tamer Ugurlu, leaving for Johannesburg via Dubai on Emirates Airlines flight EK-603, was intercepted at the immigration counter. His radiological test showed the presence of heroin-filled capsules in his body cavities. He was sent to JPMC where 83 capsules of the contraband drug were recovered, weighing 2.2 kilograms.

A South African woman, identified as Leonie Dorothea Herd, was intercepted when she reported to the immigration counter to board an Ethiopian Airlines flight (ET-643) for Johannesburg via Addis Ababa. Her baggage was searched which led to the recovery of 500 grams of heroin powder.

A Tanzanian Omar Hassan Omar, a Nigerian national Clement Mgbakogu and a woman from Mali, Boabale Traore, were also intercepted at the airport. The radiological examination showed the presence of heroin-filled capsules inside their body cavities. They were sent to JPMC where 95 capsules of contraband drug weighing a total of 1.34 kilograms were retrieved.

Besides, Pakistan nationals Zeeshan Ahmed, leaving for Bangkok by Cathay Pacific Airlines flight CX-270 and Qaiser Mehmood, destined for Dubai by Swiss Airlines flight LX-247 were intercepted and a search of their baggage led to the recovery of 1.1 kilograms heroin powder from Zeeshan’s baggage and one kilogram from the luggage of Qaiser Mehmood.

Following the recovery of contraband heroin, the suspects were arrested and FIRs under the Control of Narcotics Substances Act 1997, registered against them, the spokesman added.