Customs officials intercept 12kg of marijuana concealed inside toy parcels at Karachi’s International Mail Office during routine screening.
KARACHI: Pakistan Customs has thwarted a major narcotics smuggling attempt by seizing 12 kilograms of marijuana concealed inside parcels arriving from Thailand through the international postal system, with the contraband estimated to be worth Rs366.2 million.
According to an official statement, the seizure was made on 4 July 2026 during routine scanning operations at the International Mail Office (IMO), Karachi. Customs officials intercepted two suspicious parcels originating from Bangkok, Thailand, after identifying irregularities during the screening process.
Following the initial detection, Preventive Officer Zahid Hussain carried out a detailed physical examination of the consignments.
The parcels had been declared as containing plastic car toys, Lego sets, model kit paper and wooden rocks. However, customs officials discovered that the declared goods had been used to conceal 12 kilograms of marijuana hidden inside plastic toy boxes.
The narcotics were recovered from two separate consignments weighing 7 kilograms and 5 kilograms, respectively.
Pakistan Customs estimated the market value of the seized marijuana at approximately Rs366.2 million.
Following the recovery, the contraband was handed over to the Directorate of Enforcement & Compliance (Headquarters), Karachi, for further legal proceedings.
Authorities have registered a First Information Report (FIR) and launched an investigation to identify those responsible for the attempted smuggling operation and dismantle the criminal network behind the shipment.
Pakistan Customs said the successful interception highlights the effectiveness of its intelligence-led enforcement strategy and continued vigilance in preventing the misuse of international postal and courier channels for transnational narcotics trafficking.
The department reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening anti-smuggling operations, enforcing customs laws and protecting national security by disrupting illegal drug trafficking networks operating across international borders.