PESHAWAR, September 14: Pakistan Customs has foiled a major arms and ammunition smuggling attempt near Dera Ismail Khan, recovering weapons, magazines and thousands of rounds of ammunition with a combined estimated value of Rs32 million, officials said on Monday.
According to the Collectorate of Customs (Enforcement), Peshawar, the operation was launched on credible information about an attempted smuggling movement along the Goluti-D.I. Khan route.
A Customs team stationed at JCP Yarik was tasked with intercepting the suspected vehicle.
Officials said the driver ignored instructions to stop and accelerated in an attempt to evade the checkpoint. Customs personnel pursued the vehicle and intercepted it at Sidra Sharif at around 1:00 a.m.
The driver abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot. Efforts are under way to trace and arrest him.
Large Arms Cache Recovered
Customs officials said a substantial quantity of weapons and ammunition was recovered from the vehicle, including assault rifles, pistols, high-capacity magazines and ammunition of different calibres.
The seized weapons included four M4 rifles, two G-III rifles, 18 Tissa Zigana pistols from Turkey, 25 Sarena pistols listed as US-made, five Sarena pistols listed as Italian-made, two shot pistols of unknown origin and 120 Chinese-made 30-bore pistols.
The recovery also included 42 Magpul PMAG D-60 AR/M4-compatible 60-round magazines, 20 empty M4 magazines and 40 empty AK-47 magazines.
Customs also seized 900 AK-47 rounds, 3,500 rounds of 30-bore pistol ammunition, another 2,700 AK-47 rifle rounds and 1,600 12-bore Pak Shaheen cartridges.
The combined value of the arms, ammunition and vehicle was estimated at approximately Rs32 million.
Vehicle, Weapons Taken Into Custody
The seized vehicle, arms and ammunition have been taken into official custody and legal proceedings are being initiated under relevant laws, officials said.
Further investigation is under way to identify and apprehend others allegedly involved in the smuggling attempt.
Pakistan Customs said it remained committed to curbing the illegal movement of arms and ammunition through border and peripheral routes and taking enforcement action against smuggling networks.