Officials at the Torkham Border have seized 30 kilograms of silver that was smuggled into Pakistan from Afghanistan. The metal was hidden inside the tyres of a truck at the Torkham Import Terminal during a routine inspection.
According to customs authorities, the vehicle had earlier transported an Afghan family and was returning when it was stopped for checking. Officers grew suspicious during the search and carried out a detailed inspection of the truck. Upon removing parts of the tyres, they discovered carefully concealed silver bars.
The recovered silver is estimated to be worth around Rs. 480 million in the local market. The vehicle used for smuggling has also been taken into custody. Collector Ghulam Mustafa confirmed that strict action will be taken against those involved. Superintendent Zia Afridi was also part of the operation led by Pakistan Customs.
Torkham is one of the busiest trade routes between Pakistan and Afghanistan. It handles large volumes of goods daily under the Afghanistan Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement. Due to the heavy flow of cargo, the border has often been used by smuggling networks to move precious metals, foreign currency, and other restricted items.
Customs officials say surveillance and inspections have been tightened to curb illegal trade. Authorities believe that stronger monitoring and better coordination between border agencies are necessary to prevent such incidents in the future.
