Pakistan arrests seven Iranians in North Arabian Sea, seizes over 600kg narcotics

KARACHI: Pakistan has seized over 600 kilograms of narcotics and arrested eight smugglers, including seven Iranian nationals, in the North Arabian Sea, its maritime security agency said on Monday. 
The arrests were made in a “joint intelligence-based counter-narcotics operation” conducted by the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA) and the Pakistan Customs Preventive, the PMSA said in a statement. 
“During the operation, eight foreign smugglers were apprehended in the North Arabian Sea and approximately 658 kilograms of narcotics were recovered from a stateless boat,” the PMSA statement read. 
It said the consignment was worth over Rs6 billion ($33.7 million) in the illicit drug market. 
Asked about the nationality of the arrested suspects, a PMSA spokesperson told Arab News that seven of the smugglers were Iranian nationals and one belonged to Seychelles — an archipelago of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean off East Africa. 
“The seized narcotics along with smugglers have been handed over to Pakistan Customs Preventive for further investigation and legal proceedings including investigation of involvement of any of the apprehended individual or group in other anti-state activities and completion of legal formalities,” the PMSA said. 
The agency said the “successful operation” resulting in the seizure of narcotics was a testament to the fact that Pakistan was vigilant and remained committed in preventing the use of its waters for any unlawful act. 
“Pakistan Maritime Security Agency will continue to shoulder its national obligations and responsibility to establish lawful and order at sea,” it added.