ISLAMABAD: Authorities at Islamabad International Airport foiled a drugs smuggling attempt on Tuesday when a dual national woman was caught carrying heroin concealed in traditional footwear. However, the incident took a startling turn when it was revealed that a FIA official was facilitating the accused.
According to the airport sources, the suspect, identified as Mehwish Jabeen, was scheduled to travel to Istanbul via Turkish Airlines flight TK-711. During routine security screening, officials discovered approximately one kilogramme of heroin hidden inside three Peshawari sandals in her luggage.
The heroin was carefully concealed within the soles of the sandals, in what investigators believe was an attempt to evade standard scanning procedures. Jabeen was immediately taken into custody.
What raised eyebrows was the presence of an FIA official who allegedly provided VIP protocol to the suspect during her passage through airport checkpoints. The agency has confirmed that an internal investigation is underway.
“A director-level officer has been assigned to lead the inquiry, and the FIA official involved has been identified and is being questioned,” an FIA spokesperson said on condition of anonymity.
Security officials from the Airport Security Force (ASF) have also verified the heroin seizure and are assisting in the ongoing probe. Officials say the scope of the investigation has been widened to determine whether Jabeen was working as part of a larger trafficking network.
This incident comes amid increasing scrutiny of airport security protocols and calls for accountability within law enforcement agencies tasked with curbing narcotics trafficking.
Further developments are awaited as Jabeen is a British national as well ass.