FIA Arrests Passenger, Facilitator, Recovers 16 Kg Gold From Airport

Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Immigration arrested a passenger from Multan International Airport (MIAP) and his facilitator who tried to smug 16 kg of gold to the UAE on Friday

Immigration authorities apprehended a passenger and his accomplice at Multan International Airport (MIAP) for attempting to smuggle 16 kg of gold to the UAE on Friday.

Deputy Director of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), Khawaja Hammad, informed the news agency that a passenger named Muhammad Tanvir was boarding a Fly Dubai flight, FZ 304, destined for Dubai on Friday morning from MIAP. During routine security checks, 16 kg of gold bricks were discovered concealed in his luggage.

Upon entering the airport, the passenger initially denied having any gold in his luggage. However, during the investigation, it was revealed that a staff member of the Civil Aviation Authority, identified as Saeed, facilitated him in transferring the gold after the passenger had entered the airport premises.

Further inquiry conducted by FIA staff uncovered that Tanvir expressed dissatisfaction with his stated business activities. It was discovered that he had traveled to Dubai approximately 80 times within a short span, returning to Pakistan after staying for only three to four days during each trip, as per his travel history records.

In response to a query, Mr. Hammad asserted that the passenger had concealed the gold bricks, each weighing between 3 to 4 kg, in hidden compartments within his luggage.

Both Tanvir and his facilitator, Saeed, were apprehended by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), and a First Information Report (FIR) has been lodged against them. The Deputy Director mentioned that they have been detained in the FIA Multan Circle lockup.

When asked further, he disclosed that the accused had been engaged in gold smuggling for an extended period, resulting in significant losses to the national treasury.