PC HELD OVER UKP1M HEROIN SEIZURE

A SERVING police officer with the Lancashire force has been arrested
in India, allegedly attempting to smuggle heroin worth nearly UKP1
million into Britain using his official warrant card.

Constable Shadir Rehman Abdul Mubarak was one of five men detained in
Bombay on Friday after police said they were found with a box
containing 11lb of high-grade heroin worth UKP950,000. It is alleged
that Pc Mubarak, who lives near Preston and holds an Indian passport,
was using his warrant card to try to smuggle the heroin into Britain
inside a whisky box and a suitcase.

He and another man - both said to have dual British-Indian nationality
- - and the other three were arrested by the Narcotics Control Bureau
and have been remanded in custody. A British Customs official said he
understood that Pc Mubarak was arrested as he was about to board a
Manchester-bound flight.

The drugs were allegedly found in his luggage. The policeman, who is
based in the southern division of the Lancashire Constabulary,
covering Chorley, Leyland and Skelmersdale, was on holiday in India
and not on official business.

Lancashire police chiefs ordered their own investigation last night.
Assistant Chief Constable Julia Hodson said: "Early on Friday we were
notified of the detention of a serving police officer at Bombay airport.

"Since then, the chief superintendent in charge of this force's
professional standards unit has been in close liaison with HM Customs
and the Foreign Office." She promised early "positive and affirmative
action" on Pc Mubarak's case.

A Lancashire police spokesman said: "While the matter is outside our
jurisdiction, we will obviously give any assistance required by other
agencies."