Karachi (PPI) - Maritime Security Agency (MSA) and Pakistan Customs through a joint operation arrested nine drug smugglers riding a boat to Yemen and seized 2000kg hashish from their possession. Addressing a joint news conference at MSA ship 'Nazim' near Pakistan Naval Jetty on Friday, Mr Afzal, Commodore, MSA and Fateh Muhammad Sheikh, Collector Pakistan Customs said following an intelligence information, both the stakeholders conducted raid at a boat in open sea being driven to a Gulf state two days back. "During search operation of the boat, our personnel found two tons of hashish hidden in pockets of fuel tanks of it. Our team arrested nine-member smuggler gang besides confiscating their boat and drug," they said. They said this drug was smuggled to Pakistan from Afghanistan by road. It was hidden in Pakistani coastal areas. After some days, it was being smuggled to Gulf states. According to pre-plan, it had to be shifted to a ship travelling to Gulf states but our team reached the boat before shifting of hashish, they added. Seized hashish and boat were showed to newsmen. This hashish was packed in 1-kg packets. About 99 bags contained 19-21 packets each. However, neither arrested smugglers were presented before media nor their names were disclosed. To a query, they said we could not disclose names of arrested drug smugglers as this may put hurdles in way of intelligence efforts to reach original network of smugglers. Although we have arrested many drug smugglers from open sea but we could not bust 'original players'. There are many obstacles in reaching them. Efforts are being made to know network of currently busted smugglers in Gulf States as well as in Pakistan. According to our intelligence information, drug is being smuggled to Gulf states from coastline area between Gawadar to Karachi. First it is loaded on small boats hiding it in secret pockets of the boat. Then it is shifted to a large boat in open sea. In final stage, it is shifted to a ship travelling to a destination after clearance of search by Pakistan Customs and concerned agencies, they elaborated. MSA and Pakistan Customs have seized 10 tons drugs and 1000 bottles of wine through different joint operation so far. Cases of the arrested smugglers have been filed with the court.