PESHAWAR
Police arrested a suspected inter-provincial arms smuggler and recovered a cache of illegal weapons and ammunition during an operation at a checkpoint in the Matani area, officials said on Monday.
According to police, snap checking and security checks at roadblocks across the district have been intensified on the directives of senior officers as part of an ongoing crackdown against illegal weapons and criminal elements.
A police statement said that, acting on the instructions of SP Saddar Division Fida Hussain and under the supervision of DSP Badhaber Circle Saeed-ur-Rehman, SHO Matni Iftikhar Ahmed and other personnel carried out a successful operation that foiled an attempt to smuggle a large quantity of weapons and ammunition.
The suspect, who police said was affiliated with an inter-provincial arms smuggling network, was allegedly attempting to transport illegal weapons and ammunition in a motorcar.
Police said the accused was arrested at the Arbab Topo checkpoint after officers received confidential information regarding the smuggling attempt.
During a search of the vehicle, police recovered three rifles, two pistols, 117 rounds of ammunition of various calibres and several magazines. The vehicle allegedly being used for the transportation of the weapons was also taken into custody.
According to the police statement, the suspect admitted during preliminary interrogation to his involvement in arms and ammunition smuggling.
A case has been registered against the accused, while further investigations were under way to determine the extent of his alleged links and activities.
