International Airline Flight Attendant Offloaded at Karachi Airport after the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) tightened checking at Jinnah International Airport.
Officials stopped the crew member before her departure to Saudi Arabia. She was travelling on a Pakistani passport with a Saudi exit and re-entry visa.
Immigration staff marked her as suspicious during clearance. The Government Reporting Officer checked her documents and ordered a full baggage search.
During the search, officials recovered 26 bundles of cigarettes, nine packets of Adab gutka, 24 sachets of Rajni tobacco, and three shopping bags filled with betel nuts. These items are restricted for export in such quantity.
The woman told investigators she has been working as a flight attendant with Saudia since 2014. She said her job requires frequent international travel.
According to immigration officials, she admitted that she had been transporting prohibited and commercial goods for the last six months. She also reportedly revealed that 10 to 12 other crew members were involved in similar activities.
During questioning, she allegedly confessed to clearing goods by bribing officials from different departments and airline staff. Authorities believe the goods were smuggled to Saudi Arabia multiple times each month.
The crew member was offloaded from the flight and handed over to the FIA Anti-Corruption Circle Karachi for legal action. Further investigation is under way.
