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.