In the scorching heat of the Iran-Pakistan border, a new breed of smuggler has emerged: bikers who carry jerrycans of petrol across the desert, dodging border guards and extreme temperatures. This is not a tale of organised crime but of survival, driven by sanctions, inflation, and the desperate need for cheap fuel. The human cost is staggering: bikers often collapse from heatstroke or crash on treacherous roads.
Meanwhile, UK Border Force watches nervously, fearing these same routes could be used for human trafficking or, worse, something more sinister. The cultural shift here is palpable: what was once a small-scale operation has become a lifeline for border communities, creating a parallel economy that governments cannot control. On the streets of Quetta, fuel prices are half the official rate, but the price paid in lives is incalculable.
This is not just a border issue; it is a mirror reflecting the failures of international policy and the resilience of those who will risk everything for a few gallons of petrol.
