RAWALPINDI:
Customs officials recovered gold and silver worth over Rs 880 million from two passengers who arrived from Dubai at Islamabad International Airport on Saturday.
The suspects were intercepted with the help of scanning machines installed in the international arrivals hall.
According to airport sources, flight number 785 of a private airline arrived in Islamabad from Dubai at 9 am the previous day. Finding two passengers suspicious, customs officials decided to inspect their luggage using modern scanners installed in the international lounge. The scans indicated the presence of gold and silver hidden inside the bags.
Upon inspection, a large quantity of gold and silver was recovered, amounting to a total of 20 kilograms of gold and 20 kilograms of silver. From the luggage of a passenger, identified as Abdul Rehman, officials recovered 14 kilograms of gold, 14 kilograms of silver and high-end mobile phones. 6 kilograms of gold and 6 kilograms of silver were seized from the luggage of the second passenger, Bilal Ashraf.
Sources said the gold and silver bars were hidden in secret compartments inside the luggage. Based on current market prices, the value of the recovered gold is estimated at Rs 870 million, while the silver is valued at approximately Rs 13.4 million, taking the total value of the seized items to over Rs 880 million.
Both passengers, along with the recovered contraband, have been shifted to Customs Unit at G-9, Islamabad, where further interrogation and verification are being carried out. Legal proceedings will be initiated once the investigation is completed.
