Karachi (HRNW): The Sindh High Court has accepted the appeals of 12 convicts previously sentenced to life imprisonment in a high-profile maritime narcotics smuggling case, setting aside their convictions and ordering their immediate acquittal. The honorable court ruled that the prosecution fundamentally failed to establish a secure chain of custody and safe transit of the seized contraband. Under the law, any missing link, gap, or break in the chain of custody means the conviction cannot be sustained.
The Prosecution’s Case and Trial Court Verdict
According to the state counsel, the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA) intercepted a launch on the high seas in October 2019, arresting the crew members. Subsequent inspections by Customs authorities claimed the recovery of a massive narcotics cache, comprising 170 kilograms of heroin and 103 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine (ice) from the vessel. Finding them guilty based on these assertions, the trial court had sentenced all 12 accused to life imprisonment along with a fine of Rs. 100,000 each.
Severe Flaws in Investigation and Evidence Handing
Upon reviewing the case details, the Sindh High Court observed that foundational facts regarding the actual arrest and the subsequent recovery of the drugs remained completely ambiguous. The court highlighted several critical loopholes in the state’s case:
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Unclear Arrest Timeline: The prosecution’s own witnesses were entirely unaware of the exact time and date when the accused were initially detained.
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Exclusion of Key Witnesses: Customs officials admitted that the initial raid and interception were carried out entirely by the Maritime Security Agency, yet not a single officer from the PMSA was named or examined as a witness in the case.
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Unexplained Delays: Although the allegedly confiscated drugs were handed over to Customs on October 22, they were not deposited into the official government warehouse until October 30. The prosecution failed to provide any explanation or registry log detailing where and under whose custody this massive quantity of narcotics was kept during this multi-day gap.
“Worst Investigation in Recent Times”
Expressing severe displeasure over the highly substandard and negligent investigative methodology, the High Court remarked that the handling of this case ranks among the worst investigations in recent times. The court noted with grave concern that chemical samples of such a massive quantity of dangerous drugs were dispatched to the laboratory via standard postal mail without any secure protocols or safe escort. Consequently, due to these fatal legal infirmities and the resulting benefit of the doubt, the court ordered the absolute acquittal of all the appellants.
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