Attempt to Use PIA Boeing 777 for Narcotics Smuggling Foiled at Karachi Airport

[Abbas Ali]

An attempt to use a PIA Boeing 777 for smuggling 15 kg of narcotics has been foiled by airline's security and vigilance team at Karachi Airport, according to airline's spokesperson. Pakistan Customs, Airports Security Force (ASF) and Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) teams also searched the aircraft.

https://twitter.com/Danyal_Gilani/statu ... 2945754112

The B777 involved was scheduled to depart from Karachi at 2:15 AM as flight PK-7121 to Jeddah and is now expected to depart from Karachi at 5:30 PM with a delay of more than fifteen hours. Probably aircraft search operation delayed flight's departure.


Source: karachiairport.com.pk

Abbas

[Abbas Ali]

According to customs officials:

15 kg of narcotics was recovered from the B777 when it was undergoing some maintenance work in a hangar at Karachi Airport. The value of recovered narcotics is PKR one hundred seventy million.

Surveillance cameras footage will be examined to see who entered and left the aircraft during its maintenance work.

Attempts in the past also have been made to use the same aircraft for narcotics smuggling.

The aircraft had arrived from Manchester a couple of days ago. Maybe Boeing 777-240ER registration AP-BGJ?

AP-BGJ had arrived in Karachi at 11:47 AM on December 18 as diverted Islamabad-bound flight PK-702 from Manchester. The aircraft did not return to service after landing in Karachi.

https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/ap-bgj

Abbas

[Abbas Ali]

PIA Security Team Foils Heroin Smuggling Attempt

Karachi; December 21, 2016 - PIA's security and vigilance team, at Jinnah International Airport, in its routine pre-departure search of a Boeing 777 aircraft, which was scheduled to operate as PK-7121 (Karachi-Jeddah) recovered approximately 15 kg of heroin late last night. Officials of Airports Security Force (ASF), Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) and Pakistan Customs were also part of the search team.

Spokesman said that PK-7121 (Karachi-Jeddah) flight will be operated as soon as the aircraft is cleared by relevant agencies. The delay was caused due to recovery of heroin from the aircraft by PIA security and vigilance team late last night. Passengers have been provided hotel accommodation and are requested to remain there. They would be informed in time about the new departure time. As a consequence, the return (Jeddah-Karachi) flight PK-7122 has been delayed as well. Those passengers have also been accommodated in a local hotel.

CEO PIA Bernd Hildenbrand has ordered immediate inquiry and detailed investigation of the matter. He emphasized that strict action should be ensured against those responsible for this crime, which not only brings a bad name to the airline but also to the country.

Source: PIA Press Release (December 21, 2016)

[Abbas Ali]

PK-7121 now expected to depart from Karachi at 8:00 PM with a delay of nearly eighteen hours, according to information on Karachi Airport website.


Source: karachiairport.com.pk

Abbas

[Abbas Ali]

BTW, PK-7122 is Jeddah to Lahore flight that has suffered long delay due to this incident. PK-7122 that was scheduled to arrive in Lahore at 12:45 PM on December 21 is now expected to land in Lahore at 3:50 AM on December 22 with a delay of more than fifteen hours:


Source: lahoreairport.com.pk

Probably Lahore to Jeddah flight PK-7123 also suffering delay for same reason. PK-7123 that was scheduled to depart from Lahore at 2:30 PM on December 21 is now expected to depart from Lahore at 5:30 AM on December 22 with a delay of fifteen hours.

Source: lahoreairport.com.pk

Abbas

[Abbas Ali]

The unavailability of Boeing 777-200ER registration AP-BGK due to her VIP flight duty probably played role in worsening the situation i.e. long delays suffered by flights PK-7121, PK-7122 and maybe PK-7123 also.

Abbas

[Abbas Ali]

PIA Boeing 777-240ER registration AP-BGJ at last departed from Karachi at 9:43 PM as flight PK-7121 to Jeddah with a delay of more than nineteen hours.

https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/ap-bgj

Abbas

[Abbas Ali]

Heroin worth Rs170m seized from PIA aircraft

KARACHI: The Pakistan Customs on Wednesday claimed to have recovered 17kg of heroin worth Rs170 million from a Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) aircraft, which was ready to take off for Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Initial investigations of the federal body suggested the “involvement of officers” of the national flag carrier in “repeated attempts to smuggle the drugs.”

In a press conference, Pakistan Customs officers also negated the PIA claims that the heroin was recovered by its staff with the help of Pakistan Customs and Anti-Narcotics Force. They said a similar attempt was foiled in May 2016 when they recovered 27kg heroin in nine cotton bags from a PIA aircraft.

“The PIA [personnel] don’t have any authority to search any plane,” Director Zahid Khokar of Pakistan Customs told reporters. “It’s wrong to say that the PIA had any contribution in that success. The plane was ready to take off for Saudi Arabia and it was delayed only [due to] our reports. Total worth of [the drugs] in international market stands at around Rs170m.

“We will look into all aspects. The CCTV footage is being acquired to watch movement of the people and those who entered the aircraft. We are confident to reach them sooner or later,” added Mr Khokar.

Source: DAWN

[Abbas Ali]

According to news reports:

A committee has been formed by Pakistan Customs to investigate the incident.

Members of committee visited various areas of the airport.

A number of individuals were interrogated by the committee.

Narcotics were recovered from the aircraft in a raid/search operation solely by Pakistan Customs.

Abbas