NOWSHERA, April 27: Police have arrested a woman smuggler and seized a large quantity of drugs from her car near a checkpoint, a senior official said here.

District Police Officer Akhtar Hayat Khan Gandapur said at a press conference at the police lines here on Wednesday that law-enforcement personnel set up checkpoints on the GT Road and other areas after getting information about a smuggling attempt.

When policemen signalled a car to stop at a checkpoint, Mr Gandapur said, the driver sped away and tried to turn the car towards Peshawar.

But he lost control of the vehicle which skidded off into a ditch.

The driver, who was identified as Mamoor Khan, managed to escape before police arrived at the scene. The vehicle had an Islamabad registration plate.

Police officials found 245 kilograms of hashish and six kilograms of opium in hidden compartments of the vehicle, according to Mr Gandapur.

They also arrested Zeba, widow of Ali Gohar and resident of Baghdada town in Mardan. However, he said, two of the woman’s accomplices managed to flee.

In another incident, the police intercepted a car on the GT Road and seized six kilograms of opium and 40 kilograms of hashish, Mr Gandapur said.

The smugglers escaped before police could lay hands on them.

The DPO said that the smugglers had planned to carry out their illicit operation on the day of President Pervez Musharraf’s visit to Nowshera when police were carrying out protocol and security duties.