Lahore Airport customs officials seized 70 bottles of alcohol from the luggage of two women during a routine inspection. However, unlike a previous incident where hundreds of mobiles were confiscated from a passenger, the women were not arrested, and no case was filed against them.
The authorities discovered 70 bottles of alcohol concealed in the luggage of two women passengers. Surprisingly, no immediate action was taken against the women, neither in terms of arrest nor filing a case.
This incident comes shortly after customs authorities, acting on a tip from the Intelligence Bureau, seized three hundred mobile phones from another passenger's luggage.
In the recent alcohol seizure, customs officers were reportedly conducting protocol procedures for the women passengers, indicating a potential breach of security protocols.
Sources suggest that some customs officers stationed at Lahore Airport have allegedly been facilitating smugglers under the guise of providing protocol services. It is believed that these officers have developed strong ties with high-profile individuals, allowing them to evade transfers and continue their activities unchecked.
Deputy Collector Customs Airport Bilal Raja defended the decision, stating that the amount of alcohol seized fell below the threshold for legal action. He clarified that only if the value of confiscated alcohol exceeds Rs 1.3 million (approximately $6,200 USD) would it be classified as smuggling.
