Man held at Lahore airport for iPhone smuggling from UAE
Dozens of smartphones seized by customs authorities
Pakistan Customs officials at Lahore's Allama Iqbal International Airport (AIIAP) have confiscated iPhones worth Rs11.5 million (over Dh150,000).
Acting on a tip-off, authorities intercepted Umar Farooq, a passenger arriving from Sharjah, UAE.
A Customs spokesperson confirmed to Pakistani media on Friday that dozens of high-end smartphones were seized during the operation.
In a similar case in September, Customs personnel at Islamabad Airport intercepted over 30 iPhone 16 Pro Max units, valued at up to Rs900,000 each. The phones, smuggled by a Quetta resident allegedly linked to Customs insiders, were recovered after other officials disrupted the operation. An FIR was lodged against the smuggler.
Earlier this year, in January, a female passenger from Sharjah attempted to smuggle 23 smartphones worth over Rs9 million through Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport. Customs officials detected the phones during a luggage screening. A case was filed after the passenger failed to provide tax documents.
The smuggling of high-end smartphones, particularly iPhones, continues to thrive due to tax evasion. However, recent high-profile crackdowns by Pakistan Customs underscore a growing commitment to curbing the illegal trade, with passengers on UAE flights coming under increased scrutiny.