KARACHI, Jan 8: The Drug Enforcement Cell of Pakistan Customs claimed to have seized 17 kilograms of fine quality heroin concealed in a garment consignment booked for Nigeria and arrested two men.

According to a Customs press release, staff posted at the Export Cargo Complex, air freight unit, Jinnah International Airport, Karachi, acting on a tip-off, intercepted a consignment comprising 80 cartons, all containing bulk quantity of T-shirts being exported to a consignee in Lagos (Nigeria) by a Karachi-based exporter, Seven ‘M’ Corporation.

A detailed examination of the consignment led to the recovery of 17 kilos of fine quality heroin powder that was packed in 30 polythene packets wrapped in T-shirts in two of the 80 cartons, the press statement added.

Consequent upon the recovery and seizure of contraband narcotics, two suspects — Mehmood Ahmad and Ashraf Abbas — representing the clearing agents and the exporter, respectively, were arrested and a case under the Control of Narcotics Substances Act, 1997 was registered against them.

Earlier this month, the DEC staff had apprehended a Pakistani couple for smuggling 800 grams of heroin.