Pakistan Customs said on November 10, 2026 that its intensified nationwide anti-smuggling drive had produced several large seizures. The three most significant were a heroin recovery at Ziarat Cross near Quetta, a seizure of smuggled goods at Digital Enforcement Station (DES) Kolpur, also in Quetta, and the detection of suspected cigarette-filter raw material at Silk Route Dry Port, Sost. A dry port is an inland cargo terminal where goods are cleared under customs supervision. The department put the estimated duties and taxes linked to the Sost case at Rs319 million.
Heroin and a vehicle seized at Ziarat Cross
The Field Enforcement Unit (FEU) at Ziarat Cross, which works under the Collectorate of Customs (Enforcement) in Quetta, recovered 42.891 kg of heroin. Customs said the drugs were hidden in specially built concealed compartments in a Toyota Hilux Revo. The heroin has an estimated international market value of Rs1.2 billion, and the vehicle, valued at about Rs20 million, was also seized, bringing the total to Rs1.22 billion. Both occupants were arrested on the spot.
An FIR (first information report, the formal record that starts a police case) was registered under the Customs Act, 1969 and the Control of Narcotic Substances Act, 1997. Customs noted that this was the third major narcotics seizure by the same FEU station in less than six weeks.
Kolpur and Sost operations
At Kolpur, DES officers checking a passenger vehicle on the Quetta–Sibi route seized foreign-origin goods worth Rs51.6 million. The CIF value, which is the cost of goods including insurance and freight up to the point of entry, was Rs36.1 million. The haul included about 500 kg of Cellulose Acetate Tow valued at Rs50 million, 30 Indian-origin ketamine injections, Chinese salt, poppy seeds, foreign cigarettes, cosmetics and confectionery.
Customs said this was the second major Cellulose Acetate Tow seizure by the Kolpur station in less than ten days. An earlier recovery of about 730 kg, worth Rs73 million, was made on 31 October 2026. The latest operation was carried out by recently inducted Sub-Inspectors and Sepoys, which the department said showed the growing capacity of its field formations.
At Silk Route Dry Port, Sost, officers examined an undeclared container on 07 November 2026. They recovered about 23,800 kg of suspected Cellulose Acetate Tow, along with cosmetics, perfumes, mobile phone batteries and circuit breakers. The goods have an estimated market value of Rs75 million, while the duties and taxes are estimated at Rs319 million, mostly because of the suspected tow. Samples are being sent for laboratory testing to confirm the exact composition, and legal proceedings are being started under the Customs Act, 1969.
Timeline: what has happened so far
- 31 October 2026: DES Kolpur recovers about 730 kg of Cellulose Acetate Tow worth Rs73 million.
- 07 November 2026: An undeclared container at Silk Route Dry Port, Sost, is examined, and about 23,800 kg of suspected material is recovered.
- 10 November 2026: Pakistan Customs publicises the Ziarat Cross, Kolpur and Sost operations in a statement that says enforcement will continue.
Aasan alfaaz mein
Pakistan Customs ne Ziarat Cross par 42.891 kg heroin pakri, jiski international market value Rs1.2 billion batayi gayi hai. Kolpur aur Sost mein bhi smuggled goods aur suspected raw material zabt hua. Dono afraad ko mauqe par giraftar kiya gaya aur qanooni karwai shuru ho gayi hai. Is ka matlab hai ke smuggling par nigrani sakht ho rahi hai, lekin aam shehri par iska seedha asar abhi wazeh nahi.
