625   antiques stopped from reaching Sharjah

Staff Report

KARACHI: A consignment of 625 antiques destined for Sharjah has been seized at Port Qasim by the customs drug enforcement cell.

About one week ago, during a routine search for drugs, the customs officials came across a 40 foot long container whose front was packed with furniture that blocked checking towards the back. They discovered 23 wooden crates at the back with the antiques. They included statues, brass pots, figurines, swords and furniture dating back to the Raj.

The customs officials said that the clearing agent escaped with the documents during the search. An archaeology and museum department team then arrived to asses the finding. The team submitted its report after a week.

According to the press release, the container number was No. OOLU-567470-7.

These experts verified that most of the objects belonged to various eras, including

the pre-historic period, the Indus Civilization, the Gandhara Civilization, the Islamic Era and the British Period dating back between the 7th to 19th centuries.

An FIR was lodged, said Collector Customs Mohammed Yahya.