Video of man wearing fake Pakistani army uniform arrested for drug trafficking misleads online

"The spokesperson of the Pakistan Army, which earns billions of dollars from the drug trade, says that it is a poor army," reads part of an Urdu-language X post shared on May 13, 2026.

"In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a Pakistan army major was caught red-handed with drugs."

The video, which does not have audio, shows officials taking a bag out of a car and removing packages from it. A man in an army uniform stands nearby.

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Screenshot of the false post taken on May 20, 2026, with a red X added by AFP

Law enforcement officials in Pakistan are often accused of abusing their authority and engaging in illicit activities (archived here, here and here).

The mistrust in authorities, combined with growing criticism of state institutions from different segments of society, has fuelled backlash against army officers -- particularly among members of former prime minister Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party (archived link).

The ex-leader was ousted from power in 2022 by a no-confidence vote that analysts say was the result of falling out with the army.

Similar claims were shared elsewhere on social media including Facebook and Instagram, but the video does not show an army officer arrested for drug trafficking.

A reverse image search using keyframes of the video led to the same footage shared by the Excise, Taxation and Narcotics Control Department Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in northern Pakistan on April 2, 2023 (archived link). 

"A fake major, Iqbal Ali son of Farman Ali, resident of Abbottabad, dressed in a Pakistani army uniform, was arrested while smuggling a large quantity of drugs," reads part of the Urdu-language post.

It goes on to say the suspect was stopped at a checkpoint but attempted to flee. He was arrested after a brief chase and 60 kilograms (132 pounds) of hashish were seized. 

"A case was registered against the suspect under multiple sections for drug smuggling, damaging government property and defaming the Pakistan army."

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Screenshot comparison of the falsely shared post (L) and the Excise Taxation And Narcotics Control Department Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's post taken on May 20, 2026, with a red X added by AFP

The department published a media briefing video on the day to give details of the arrest, where some of the same officers can be seen (archived link). 

A senior inspector from the excise department, Azlan Aslam, told AFP on May 20, 2026 that the circulating video shows the 2023 arrest and that he was wearing a fake military uniform and carrying fake documents. 

He went on to say the suspect was sentenced to life for drug trafficking and to five years in prison for possessing forged documents.

Pakistani news outlets also reported on the case at the time (archived here and here). 

AFP has previously debunked misinformation about Pakistan's military.