A task force created to combat the gutka mafia has been thrust into controversy after three female police officers were allegedly caught stealing Rs. 2.6 million during a raid on a gutka manufacturing factory, according to ARY News.
The raid, led by Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Abid Fazal, took place in Orangi, Karachi. During the operation, two suspects, Yusuf and Hussain, were arrested, and 100 kilograms of gutka and other materials were seized from the factory.
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However, following the raid, residents of the raided house filed a complaint at Orangi Police Station, alleging that police officers had stolen cash during the operation. In response to the complaint, police intercepted the raiding team and conducted a search.
During the search, one of the female constables, identified as Mahira, was found with Rs. 1.6 million, while another constable had over 900 riyals and a few dirhams. Some officers were reportedly seen trying to dispose of the stolen money to avoid detection.
The incident was immediately reported to senior police officials, including the DIG and Additional IG. As a result, the three female officers—Mahira, Aram, and Shazia—were suspended, and DSP Complaint Malir was assigned to investigate the matter.
This follows a similar operation in October 2024, where Karachi police raided a gutka production facility in Malir’s Ibrahim Hyderi area. The operation, carried out under the direction of the IG Sindh, led to the seizure of gutka, chalia, and machinery, with allegations that the factory operated under the protection of local police.
In another raid at Husrat Mohani Colony, SSP Kamran Fazal reported the seizure of over 30 tons of gutka and related materials from a factory on Mangu Pir Road. The operation, conducted based on confidential information, was part of ongoing efforts to dismantle gutka production facilities across Karachi.
