GILGIT: A Chinese national and a Pakistani translator have been arrested in Sost town, near Khunjerab Pass in Upper Hunza, for allegedly selling wine.

Sost Station House Officer Azfar Hussain told the media that police had raided a hotel in the Sost town bazaar, following a tip-off.

This was a joint operation involving local police and law enforcement agency personnel.

The team arrested a Chinese national and his Pakistani translator for allegedly selling wine in the town. The police also recovered a total of 295 bottles of liquor, amounting to approximately 232 litres, from their possession.

A case has been filed at Sost Police Station under Sections 3 and 4 of the Prohibition Order.

The Hunza police produced both accused in a court in Aliabad, Hunza, and obtained their physical remand.

The Sost town area is a hub for trade between Pakistan and China via the Khunjerab Pass. Azfar Hussain, SHO of Sost Police Station, told Dawn that the police are investigating how the wine was smuggled to Sost.

Published in Dawn, September 16th, 2026