LAHORE, PAKISTAN – Pakistan’s Airports Security Force (ASF) and Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) soured one man’s plans to transport 2.5 kilograms of heroin into the Middle East, hidden inside of oranges.

The drugs were seized at Lahore’s Allama Iqbal International Airport in route to Qatar, where officers prevented Saragodha native Naeem Masih from boarding his flight Saturday, February 11.

After a thorough inspection, the oranges Masih were carrying were revealed to be, in fact, capsules of heroin wrapped in orange peels, according to news source Pakistan Today. The seedy mock-citrus was seized and Masih was taken into custody to be interrogated.

According to Pakistan’s Daily Times, the recovered drugs were valued at Rs25 million, nearly $24,000.

Masih’s flight, Qatar Airways flight QR-621, was scheduled to arrive at Jeddah via Doha in Qatar, but Dunya News reports that the drugs may have been headed for Saudi Arabia.

No news has been forthcoming regarding whether the attempted smuggling was an isolated incident or part of a broader criminal conspiracy.

Where will nefarious types next use fresh produce to pirate their wares? AndNowUKnow will keep you in the loop.