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.
Pakistan arrests seven Iranians in North Arabian Sea, seizes over 600kg narcotics
https://arab.news/cr5f9
Pakistan arrests seven Iranians in North Arabian Sea, seizes over 600kg narcotics
- Pakistani maritime authorities say the narcotics are worth $33.7 million
- Suspects will also be investigated for involvement in anti-state activities
Islamabad says 2,000 Pakistani students evacuated from Iran amid Gulf war
- Pakistan has attempted to evacuate thousands of its nationals in Iran since its conflict with US, Israel began on Feb. 28
- Pakistani embassies, consulates in Iran working “round the clock” to provide emergency assistance, says minister
ISLAMABAD: Around 2,000 Pakistani students have been evacuated from Iran amid the ongoing war in the Middle East, federal minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhary said on Tuesday.
Thousands of Pakistani students study in educational institutions across Iran, which has been rocked by conflict since the US and Israel carried out coordinated strikes against it on Feb. 28. Iran has retaliated with missile and drone attacks against Israel and US military bases in Gulf countries, and closed off the Strait of Hormuz through which 20 percent of the world’s oil and gas supply passes.
Islamabad has attempted to repatriate its citizens fleeing Iran and other Gulf nations since the conflict began last month. Pakistan announced earlier this month it has designated Baku as an evacuation base for its citizens seeking safe transit amid the Iran conflict.
“The National Assembly was informed today that two thousand Pakistani students have been evacuated from Iran in view of the current tensions in the Middle East,” state broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported.
The information was shared by Chaudhary, who is the federal minister for parliamentary affairs. Chaudhary was responding to a calling attention notice by lawmaker Natasha Daultana and others.
The minister said Pakistan’s embassy and consulates in Iran are working “round the clock” to provide all possible support and emergency assistance to Pakistani nationals.
While US President Donald Trump has said the war in Iran could end “very soon,” Tehran has said it is deploying projectiles in greater numbers, and with warheads weighing more than one ton.
Iran also launched new attacks on Tuesday at Gulf countries, with missile sirens sounding in Dubai and Bahrain early morning while Saudi Arabia said it had destroyed two drones over its oil-rich eastern region. Kuwait’s National Guard said it had shot down six drones on Tuesday.
Brent crude, the international standard, spiked to nearly $120 on Monday before falling back but was still at around $90 a barrel on Tuesday, nearly 24 percent higher than when the war started on Feb. 28.
