Islamabad, Oct 30 (IANS) Police in Pakistan’s Peshawar city Saturday busted a gang that — disguised as Haj pilgrims — was trying to smuggle narcotics into Saudi Arabia.
The Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) carried out the operation in Peshawar, the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
At least six passengers were arrested while trying to board a Jeddah-bound flight from Peshawar airport. The accused were in the guise of Haj pilgrims.
Capsules of heroin and other narcotics material were recovered from the stomach of the accused.
On another tip-off, two more people, who belonged to the same gang, were arrested from Haji Camp. They were scheduled to board the next flight.
The commandant of ANF Peshawar, Brig. Muhammed Ameer Khan ‘confirmed the arrest of eight drug peddlers in two separate operations’, adding that ‘the accused were involved in trying to smuggle narcotics to Saudi Arabia while faking as hajis’.
‘Further investigations are underway and some international gang is believed to be behind this heinous act,’ Geo TV reported quoting anonymous sources.
Thousands of people go to Saudi Arabia every year from Pakistan and around the world to perform Haj, which is the most revered pilgrimage for Muslims.
