The customs authorities on Friday destroyed 445kg heroin seized in the past four years from different locations.
The drug was destroyed in the presence of senior customs officials at a factory near Ibban Kalan on the local Chabhal Road. Giving details, customs commissioner KK Sharma said, “As a normal procedure, we have destroyed 445kg heroin. The entire drug was seized between 2008 and 2012 under the jurisdiction of the commissionerate by the customs and DRI. The entire seizure was from 26 different cases.”

Talking to mediapersons, Sharma said, “Our men are always on alert to thwart any chance of smuggling. But smugglers are smugglers and they still manage to smuggle such items.”

On a question, the customs commissioner said, “Apart from getting installed a full body scanner in a year’s time, we will soon have a dog squad at the Integrated Check Post that would play a key role in detecting the narcotics.”

The commissioner mentioned that the dog squad was currently under training.

When asked about the decline in trade through the rail route, the customs commissioners admitted that the recent seizures in the goods train had affected the trade.

He said, “We have strongly taken up the matter with Pakistan. And now they have also heightened the vigil and stationed their force on the loading point. Things are improving and the last seizure was made from the goods train in October.”