Major Cigarette smuggling route from Balochistan to South Punjab allegedly exposed after road accident

ISLAMABAD/ DERA GHAZI: A traffic accident involving a vehicle allegedly transporting a large consignment of non-duty-paid cigarettes has exposed what investigators describe as a major smuggling corridor linking Balochistan to South Punjab, while raising serious questions about the effectiveness of multiple law enforcement checkpoints operating along the route.

According to an investigation by the ABN News Research Cell, a vehicle bearing registration number BDU-946 crashed in April while travelling from Balochistan to Punjab. Subsequent inquiries reportedly revealed the existence of a well-established route allegedly being used for the transportation of non-duty-paid cigarettes into Punjab.

Sources claim that authorities recovered 440 cartons of illicit cigarettes from the wrecked vehicle, which were later handed over to Customs officials. The injured driver, identified as Shoaib Akhtar, son of Rehmat, a resident of Sariab Road, Quetta, was shifted to hospital by police following the accident.

Investigators noted that vehicles travelling from Balochistan into Punjab through the Dera Ghazi Khan Division pass through numerous checkpoints operated by different agencies. The Ghazi Ghat route is monitored by a joint checkpoint comprising Punjab Police, Customs, Highway Patrol Police and Pakistan Rangers, while the Taunsa Barrage route is covered by a combined checkpoint involving Punjab Police, Customs and Border Police.

In addition, checkpoints are established at Kot Addu, Daira Din Panah, Head Muhammad Wala, Muzaffargarh Sadar, Sanawan and several other locations. Despite the extensive security presence, significant quantities of non-duty-paid cigarettes are allegedly moving from Balochistan into South Punjab without effective interdiction.

The investigation further alleges that river crossing points at Ghazi Ghat and Khar Arabi are also being exploited as alternative smuggling channels, enabling traffickers to bypass formal enforcement mechanisms.

Sources further claim that while Sanawan Police ensured medical treatment for the injured driver, no substantial effort was made to conduct a detailed interrogation that could have uncovered the broader network allegedly involved in the smuggling operation.

Security and taxation experts argue that a comprehensive investigation of the driver could have provided valuable intelligence regarding the alleged smuggling syndicate, including its logistics chain, transport fleet, financiers, facilitators and distribution network.

The incident has reignited concerns over the scale of illicit cigarette trafficking in Pakistan and raises troubling questions about how a vehicle carrying such a large quantity of non-duty-paid cigarettes was allegedly able to pass through multiple law enforcement checkpoints undetected.

The case highlights not only a suspected smuggling route stretching from Balochistan to South Punjab but also potential weaknesses in enforcement, surveillance and inter-agency accountability along one of the region’s most sensitive transit corridors.