KARACHI, Nov 18: Officials of the Drug Enforcement Cell of the Preventive Collectorate of the Pakistan Customs on Saturday seized a huge quantity of antiquities from an export consignment at the Bin Qasim Port.

The officials said the antiquities were hidden in wooden furniture and were being smuggled to Sharjah.

The customs officials said the consignment comprised 625 pieces of antiquities hidden in 376 packages that were stored in 23 wooden boxes in container No OOUL-667470-7.

The officials said the antiquities were inspected by experts of the archaeology and museums departments who verified that most of the objects belonged to the glorious heritage of Pakistan depicting various eras such as pre-historic period, Indus civilisation, Gandhara civilisation, Islamic era and even British rule in the sub-continent.

The customs officials said experts from the archaeology and museums department had determined the value of antiquities in the international market in millions of dollars.