Pakistan Navy, Coast Guards Foil Smuggling Attempt in Balochistan’s Pishukan
The Pakistan Navy and Pakistan Coast Guards, in coordination with the Joint Maritime Information Coordination Centre (JMICC), have foiled an attempt to smuggle contraband in the Pishukan area of Balochistan, confiscating a sizeable quantity of liquor and illegal medicines, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).
The intelligence-based anti-smuggling operation was conducted on actionable intelligence and resulted in the seizure of a large cache of prohibited items. The operation highlights ongoing maritime security and law-enforcement efforts to prevent Pakistani waters and land from being used for illicit activities. The seized contraband was handed over to the Pakistan Coast Guards for further legal proceedings.
Intelligence-Led Operation in Pishukan
According to ISPR, the joint operation successfully thwarted the attempted movement of contraband in the Pishukan area.
The military’s media wing said the operation demonstrated the effectiveness of inter-agency coordination in countering smuggling and reflected the resolve of the Pakistan Navy and Pakistan Coast Guards to prevent the use of Pakistani waters and territory for illicit activities.
No further details about the quantity of liquor or illegal medicines were provided in the initial statement.
Prime Minister Praises Joint Action
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised the Pakistan Navy and Coast Guards for successfully foiling the smuggling attempt in Pishukan.
According to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), the joint anti-smuggling operation resulted in the confiscation of a large stockpile of prohibited items, including liquor and illegal medicines.
The prime minister stressed the importance of institutional coordination in tackling smuggling and praised the professional capabilities, alertness and preparedness of the personnel who participated in the operation.
Interior Minister Calls for Continued Enforcement
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi also commended the Pakistan Navy and Coast Guards and appreciated the professional expertise of the personnel involved.
According to the Interior Ministry, Naqvi said the operation demonstrated the importance of effective communication and cooperation between institutions in combating smuggling.
The interior minister described smuggling as a “deadly poison for the national economy” and said institutions remain active in efforts to eradicate it. He also stated that a zero-tolerance policy against those involved in smuggling would continue to be enforced.
Recent Maritime Interdiction Operation in Arabian Sea
The Pishukan operation follows another major maritime interdiction operation earlier this year.
In April 2026, the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA) confiscated foreign liquor worth Rs200 million during a joint intelligence-based operation in the Arabian Sea.
During that operation, authorities intercepted a stateless vessel carrying a large quantity of illicit liquor concealed onboard and intended for unlawful distribution.
The operation involved the coordinated efforts of the Pakistan Navy, PMSA, JMICC and the Anti-Narcotics Force of Sindh. The JMICC’s April maritime incident report also recorded the operation as a coordinated effort to counter contraband smuggling through maritime interdiction.
Wider Action Against Smuggling
Pakistan’s law-enforcement agencies have also carried out operations against smuggling through land routes.
In February 2026, the Border Military Police seized silver and narcotics worth more than Rs100 million during a crackdown along the inter-provincial border.
Authorities recovered 41 kilogrammes of silver, 13kg of crystal meth (ice) and 55kg of hashish. The contraband was allegedly being smuggled from Balochistan into Punjab.
Earlier, in November 2025, the Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) seized narcotics worth more than $154 million from an LPG container during an intelligence-based operation in Balochistan.
According to the information cited in the operation, a Drug Trafficking Organisation operating out of Panjgur was preparing to transport a large consignment of narcotics to the Gwadar-Pasni coastline for onward smuggling by sea.
Maritime Security and Coastal Enforcement
The latest Pishukan operation places maritime security, coastal surveillance and inter-agency intelligence sharing at the centre of efforts to prevent illicit activities along Pakistan’s coastline.
The involvement of the Pakistan Navy, Coast Guards and JMICC shows the role of coordinated intelligence and enforcement in disrupting suspected smuggling activity. Recent operations in the Arabian Sea have similarly involved multiple maritime and law-enforcement agencies working together against contraband trafficking.
The seized items from the Pishukan operation have been handed over to the Pakistan Coast Guards for further legal proceedings.
