The police said that the officials were relieved from duty for showing negligence while on duty and failing to report the incident to the department.

On September 14, the department arrested one suspect and recovered a vehicle allegedly carrying around 72 kilogrammes of narcotics, police added.

The department went on to add that the confiscated vehicle was being taken to a laboratory for a forensic examination when suspected smugglers took the officials hostage on gunpoint and snatched the vehicle, service weapon, and a mobile phone from the inspector of excise police.