400kg silver swapped with lead bars, FIA recovers 214kg in Rs4 million heist case

A sophisticated silver theft involving the replacement of approximately 400 kilograms of genuine silver with lead bars has exposed

Islamabad:  A sophisticated silver theft involving the replacement of approximately 400 kilograms of genuine silver with lead bars has exposed an elaborate operation involving fake container seals, replica boxes and identical vehicles, prompting the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to widen its investigation into the high profile case.

The FIA informed a Senate Sub Committee that 214 kilograms of the stolen silver had so far been recovered, while approximately 186 kilograms remained unrecovered. The case involves an estimated financial loss of Rs4 million, according to the agency’s briefing.

The investigation has raised serious questions about how such a large quantity of silver was replaced without immediate detection and whether more people were involved in planning and executing the operation.

According to the FIA’s Anti Corruption Circle, the accused allegedly used a carefully designed method to steal the silver. Fake container seals were prepared, genuine silver was replaced with lead bars and the stolen consignment was concealed through a planned operation.

The most striking part of the incident emerged during the briefing by the Director General Safe City, who explained how the operation was carried out when the consignment reached Lahore.

According to his account, one vehicle had already been prepared for the operation. As it exited the airport, another identical vehicle approached from behind and carried out the swapping operation. The vehicle carrying the consignment was subsequently taken away.

The entire sequence was detected through the Safe City surveillance system, which helped investigators uncover the operation.

Further investigation revealed that replica boxes had been specially manufactured for the theft. The individual accused of manufacturing and supplying these boxes was arrested after four weeks of investigation.

The preparation of fake seals, duplicate boxes and identical vehicles points to a carefully planned operation rather than an ordinary theft. Investigators are now using digital and financial forensics, asset tracing and other investigative methods to identify everyone involved and recover the remaining silver.

The FIA told the parliamentary committee that legal proceedings had been initiated against the accused and the matter was before the competent courts. The investigation is continuing to establish the complete chain of responsibility.

The DG Safe City also rejected allegations of his department’s involvement, arguing that if Safe City officials had been part of the operation, they would not have detected and exposed the theft themselves.

Senator Saifullah Abro, chairman of the Senate Sub Committee, appreciated the FIA’s efforts and praised its coordination and progress in the investigation. He particularly acknowledged the recovery of 214 kilograms of silver and stressed that efforts must continue until the remaining stolen material is recovered and all those responsible are brought to justice.

The chairman also described the incident as so unusual that it deserved to be made into a film. He suggested that a film making facility in Sindh or Balochistan could highlight how the theft was planned, how the silver was replaced with lead and how Safe City cameras ultimately exposed the operation.