Lahore, Pakistan – A Pakistani family of five, who traveled to Saudi Arabia for Umrah, endured a terrifying ordeal after being wrongfully jailed for allegedly smuggling narcotics into the kingdom.
The victims, identified as Farhana Akhtar, Haroon Ali, Malik Aziz, Fouzia Aziz, and Zakria Begum, departed from Lahore on December 23 for their pilgrimage. However, their sacred journey turned into a nightmare when Saudi authorities arrested them on December 30 after discovering narcotics linked to their luggage.
How It Happened
According to reports, an airport smuggling gang, with the help of a porter, had secretly swapped the family’s luggage tags, unknowingly linking them to a bag containing drugs. When authorities in Saudi Arabia questioned the family about the contraband, they insisted, “The bags weren’t ours.” However, they were imprisoned for 15 days as the case unfolded.
Swift Investigation & Arrests
The Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) in Pakistan launched a probe and analyzed CCTV footage from Lahore airport. Their investigation led to the arrest of a porter involved in the crime, along with nine other suspects, including the ringleader.
With solid evidence in hand, the Pakistani government intervened, providing Saudi authorities with proof of the family’s innocence. This ultimately led to their release, sparing them from a possible 20-year sentence.
Government’s Response
Federal Minister for Interior and Narcotics Control, Mohsin Naqvi, personally visited the family’s home, acknowledging the ANF’s swift action in dismantling the smuggling network.
“The family’s ordeal cannot be put into words,” Naqvi stated, reaffirming the government’s commitment to strengthening airport security and cracking down on smuggling operations.
Director General ANF, Maj-Gen Abdul Mueed, detailed the criminals’ tactics:
“The culprits removed the original luggage tag, placed 2kg of crystal meth (ice) inside, and replaced it with a different tag to smuggle the drugs to Jeddah.”
The case was solved within 48 hours, thanks to the collaboration between Pakistani and Saudi authorities.
Relief & Gratitude
After returning home, a family member expressed their gratitude, saying, “After hearing about a 20-year sentence, we thought we would never return. But our government helped us a lot.”
This harrowing incident underscores the importance of vigilance at airports and the ongoing efforts to combat drug smuggling in Pakistan.
