AMRITSAR: The seizure of 102kg heroin, valued at Rs 700 crore in the international market, at Attari has left the security agencies grappling with unanswered questions like who is involved in heroin smuggling from Afghanistan, whether it is a handiwork of some insider in cahoots with importers or the clearing agents, and what is delaying the installation of full body truck scanner (FBTS) at the Integrated Check Post (ICP), Attari?
The contraband seized at the ICP on Sunday was found stashed in specially created cavities in wooden logs imported from Afghanistan along with mulethi (liquorice) consignment. Intelligence sources here do not rule out the possibility of involvement of ‘insiders’ in the smuggling operation. They are also wondering if the haul could be the tip of the iceberg and a much larger part may have already crossed the international border undetected and reached Delhi or other cities of India. The seizure was made while scanning the mulethi bags, but there is also a possibility of hidden cavities in Afghan trucks that bring goods to ICP. “The FBTS is not functioning and only physical rummaging as done at ICP, which leaves much scope of smuggling through hidden cavities in trucks,” said sources.
Strangely, the customs officials have already “scrapped” the Rs 23 crore FBTS installed at ICP but the Land Port Authority of India (LPAI), the agency through which the ministry of home affairs installed it (FBTS) maintains that the facility, if need be, could be upgraded. Sources said there was no proposal to replace FBTS, but it could be upgraded. LPAI manager Sukhdev Singh said, “tThe FBTS is already installed. We'll follow the instructions received from our headquarters.” Amritsar customs commissioner Rahul Nangare refused to get into the details but maintained that the scrapped FBTS had not been replaced so far.
Heroin packets at India-Pak border
The BSF seized 1.05kg heroin from near the India-Pakistan international border in the Amritsar sector on Monday. tHE contraband was packed in two packets.
