FIA arrests former customs collector, four others in 400kg silver theft case

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has arrested a former customs collector and four other suspects in a case pertaining to allegedly swaping 400 kilograms of silver with lead.

According to an FIA spokesperson, the case came to light in April this year when 400kg of silver was allegedly replaced with lead at a customs warehouse.

The spokesperson said that the FIA's technical team conducted an investigation using digital forensic analysis and intelligence gathering. Following the completion of the inquiry, a case was registered over the alleged theft and smuggling of the silver.

Investigators said that one-kilogram silver bars had been replaced with counterfeit lead bars.

The FIA said former Customs Collector Dr Karam Elahi was among the five suspects arrested in the latest operation.

Two preventive officers, Arif Ali and Samiullah, had already been arrested in the case. The FIA previously recovered 214kg of the stolen silver and Rs4.9 million in cash from the suspects.

The spokesperson said efforts are under way to arrest the remaining absconding suspects, including two customs inspectors, as the investigation continues.