QUETTA, Nov 29: The Anti-Narcotics Force, Balochistan, has seized over one metric tone of morphine from the mountainous area, north of Chagai near Pak-Afghan border, following an encounter with the smugglers, official sources said here on Thursday.

The contraband was brought from Afghanistan for smuggling it to Turkey via Iran, a senior officer of the ANF said adding that the ANF troops launched an operation in the area on a tip off about the movement of drug smugglers.

The stock of narcotics was being guarded by armed men who started heavy firing as the troops approached the site on Wednesday night.The troops retaliated and the firing continued for about one hour. The smugglers, however, managed to escape taking the advantage of mountainous terrain and darkness.

“ Two smugglers sustained injuries but were taken along by their companions,” the officials claimed.

During the search the troops recovered 1002kg morphine, which was packed in 1kg cloth-bags.

A case had been registered and efforts were being made to arrest the culprits, the sources said.