Pakistan Customs has foiled a major arms smuggling bid and choked off weapons supply to terrorist networks near Dera Ismail Khan.
According to a press release issued by Collectorate of Customs (Enforcement) Peshawar today, the staff of the Collectorate, acting on credible intelligence, intercepted a vehicle carrying a large consignment of illegal arms and ammunition along Goluti-D.I. Khan route.
A specially tasked team from Joint Check Post Yarik was deployed to intercept the suspect vehicle.
When signaled to stop, the driver accelerated in an attempt to evade the checkpoint. Customs staff chased and intercepted the vehicle at Sidra Sharif at around 1:00 a.m., where the driver abandoned it and fled.
A substantial cache of weapons and ammunition including assault rifles, pistols and thousands of rounds of ammunition of various calibres was recovered from the vehicle.
The seized items include M4-type rifles, G-III rifles, high-capacity rifle magazines, AK-47 magazines and ammunition, handgun ammunition and pistols of multiple makes and origins.
Efforts to trace and apprehend the driver and to identify the network behind the consignment are ongoing in coordination with law enforcement and intelligence agencies.
Collector of Customs (Enforcement) Peshawar Ayesha Bashir Wani said this timely interception reflects vigilance, professionalism and unwavering resolve of field staff in denying terrorist and criminal networks access to arms and ammunition and in safeguarding public security.
