LAHORE: The Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) conducted on Tuesday a 'grand operation' and searched two planes at Lahore’s Allama Iqbal International Airport.
According to the ANF, they received information that narcotics were being smuggled in two planes of the Pakistan International Airlines.
The planes, including London-bound PK-757 and Dubai-bound PK-203, were searched thoroughly with the help of sniffer dogs, said officials.
Moreover, ANF is currently searching all parts of the plane including passengers’ luggage, crew compartments, kitchens and hand baggage compartments.
After the search, which lasted about 2.5 hours, the ANF cleared the two planes and they were allowed to take off.
The ANF said that all PIA flights travelling abroad will be searched in a similar way before their take-off.
On May 22, a bid to smuggle heroin was foiled at the Benazir Bhutto International Airport, Islamabad, when 20 kilogrammes of the contraband was seized from a London-bound flight of the national carrier.
The drugs were found concealed in the catering galley of PK-785 by the Pakistan International Airlines' vigilance team .
Although the plane was cleared to fly to London, the smuggler remained unidentified.
A spokesperson of PIA also informed that the aviation division has issued directives calling for the checking of every international flight by the ANF, PIA Securities, PIA Vigilance, Customs Intelligence and other agencies.