Customs seize 18 iPhones at Karachi airport

Pakistan Customs Monday seized 18 iPhone Pro Max handsets worth around Rs7.5 million from two passengers arriving from Dubai in separate operations at Jinnah International Airport, officials said.

Both passengers had arrived in Karachi aboard Emirates flights from Dubai.

Customs officials became suspicious after empty iPhone boxes were detected during the scanning of the passengers' baggage.

The passengers were subsequently subjected to physical searches, during which customs officials recovered the mobile phones.

Officials said five iPhone Pro Max handsets were recovered from one passenger, while 13 phones were seized from the other.

The total estimated value of the recovered mobile phones is around Rs7.5 million.

Customs officials confiscated the phones under the relevant provisions of the Customs Act.

Pakistan Customs said further legal proceedings against the passengers were underway.

Authorities have stepped up monitoring of passengers and baggage at airports to curb attempts to bring high-value electronic devices into the country without fulfilling customs requirements.

Reporter: Khursheed Rehmani