Customs authorities have foiled a major smuggling attempt of a dangerous narcotic medicine, methadone, at the Taftan border, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) said on Wednesday.
According to the FBR, officials recovered approximately 11.16 million methadone tablets from 620 cartons loaded in a container. The seized consignment is valued at Rs 446 million.
An FBR spokesperson said the illegal consignment belonged to an importer from Taftan who is already facing charges of misdeclaration and customs fraud. Authorities also arrested a man who attempted to transfer the shipment into a private vehicle.
The FBR said that the import of methadone is only permitted through a No-Objection Certificate issued by the Ministry of Narcotics Control, based on the recommendation of the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP).
Customs has registered an FIR under relevant sections of the Control of Narcotic Substances Act 1997, while further investigations are underway to arrest other individuals involved in the smuggling attempt.
