Gilgit: Smuggling bid foiled, two Chinese citizens arrested

PT Report

Gilgit, September 27: The Gilgit Police has arrested two Chinese citizens for allegedly trying to smuggle rare and expensive minerals and gemstones out of the region.

According to details, a vehicle was snap checked near Alam Bridge by officials of the Mines and Minerals Department yesterday. On inspection, it was found that a large amount of rare and expensive minerals, especially Quartz, were being taken out of the region illegally by two Chinese citizens.

Both Chinese citizens were taken into custody, subsequently, for interrogation.

Absence of strict rules and law with regards to exploration and transportation of the mineral resources of Gilgit-Baltistan has caused exponential increase in incidents of successful and unsuccessful smuggling bids.

The Gilgit-Baltistan Council, mandated with the responsibility to legislate on matters related to minerals, has been dysfunctional for several months.