GILGIT: A joint operation by Pakistan Customs, the Facilitation Mechanisms Team, and local police stopped an attempt to smuggle mobile phones from China into Pakistan near the Khunjerab Pass on Wednesday.
A passenger bus arriving from the Chinese border was stopped in the Kokcil area for inspection on Tuesday.
During a detailed search, officials recovered mobile phones hidden in various sections of the bus, according to a statement from the Pakistan Customs Sost Dry Port.
A total of 166 mobile phones, valued at approximately Rs20 million, were seized. The haul included 18 Xiaomi phones, one OnePlus phone, and 147 Apple iPhones of different models. All devices were old, used, and carrier‑locked.
The operation involved OC FMT Maj Balach, Sost Anti‑Smuggling Deputy Collector Attaullah Nasar, and customs officials Ahmed Umer Khan and Muhammad Awais.
The seized phones have been taken into customs custody for further investigation.
Mohib Khan, deputy collector of Pakistan Customs at Sost Port, said authorities have intensified inspections of goods traveling from China to Pakistan via the Khunjerab Pass.
“Attempts to smuggle contraband and restricted items through passenger and trade vehicles are being thwarted,” Khan added.
In previous joint operations by the Facilitation Mechanisms Team and Pakistan Customs, around 90,000 mobile phones—covering Apple, OnePlus, Samsung, and other brands—have already been confiscated to curb smuggling through the pass.
Foreign‑origin goods worth Rs1.4 million have also been auctioned at the Sost Dry Port.
Published in Dawn, June 25, 2026
Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly reported 163 phones, including 143 iPhones. The correct figures are 166 phones and 147 iPhones seized. The error is regretted.
