ISLAMABAD: The Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) seized huge quantity of narcotics weighing 6.95 tonnes worth of Rs 10 billion in international market in 17 operations conducted across country.
The seized drugs comprised 1.098 tonnes of heroin, 5.8 tonnes of hashish and 35.8 kilogrammes of opium. During these operations, 20 persons including two females involved in drug trafficking were arrested while four vehicles were impounded.
The ANF also arrested five absconders in a special drive, as these operations were carried out in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Faisalabad, Kohat, Peshawar, Karachi and Qilla Abdullah. According to reports, ANF Quetta in two separate intelligence-based operations at Qilla Abdullah seized 1.08 tonnes of heroin and 5.77 tonnes of hashish.
The ANF raided at two different sites including Killi Sharan and Killi Norak Suleman Khel situated in tehsil Gulistan, Qilla Abdullah, and seized 1.08 tonnes of heroin and 5.77 tonnes of hashish respectively. Both drug consignments were secretly stocked at sites far away from the populated area. As per preliminary reports, the drug consignments were intended for handing over to some other narcotics gang for smuggling to some unidentified destination.
The ANF Rawalpindi recovered 1.5 kilogrammes of heroin from personal possession of lady drug carriers who was arrested in Islamabad. The ANF Rawalpindi, in another operation, intercepted a UK-bound parcel at an office of a courier service company located at Rawalpindi, seizing 90 grammes of heroin concealed tactfully inside a lady shirt. Similarly, ANF’s airport team of Rawalpindi, in another operation, arrested a suspected passenger named Iqbal, who was the resident of Lahore at Benazir International Airport, who confessed of having ingested heroin filled capsules. The accused intended to board for Dubai by a private airline.
The ANF Lahore, on a tip, intercepted a Jeep near Thokhar Niaz Baig, Lahore and recovered 28.8 kilogrammes of opium concealed inside its secret cavities. Two persons identified as Hassan Laik and Asif Jamal, both residents of Swabi were arrested during the operation.
Similarly, the ANF Lahore in another operation recovered 350 grammes of heroin from a UK-bound parcel, which was intercepted at an office of a courier service company. The heroin was concealed in carton containing shirts. The ANF, in another operation, arrested an accused identified as Iftikhar Ahmed near main Motorway Toll Plaza of Faisalabad and recovered 500 grammes of hashish from his personal possession.
On a similar note, while searching a Hiace van near main Motorway Toll Plaza of Faisalabad, the ANF recovered 9.6 kilogrammes of hashish from the possession of an accused namely Shazaib, who was the resident of Mardan.
The force, while acting on a tip, intercepted a car near Motorway Toll Plaza of Faisalabad and recovered 7.2 kilogrammes of hashish concealed inside the car. Three persons on board including Waseem Afridi, Muhammad Hanif and Ali Akbar, all residents of Khyber Agency were arrested.
The ANF Lahore also seized a Suzuki car at Main Motorway Toll Plaza of Faisalabad, recovering 5.75 kilogrammes of hashish concealed inside the car. An accused named Aftab Khan was also arrested during the operation.
The ANF Peshawar, while intercepting another Suzuki car near Kohat Road, Peshawar, recovered 8.4 kilogrammes of hashish and one kilogrammes of opium concealed inside the car, arresting an accused named Faheem Khan, resident of Peshawar.
Similarly, the ANF Karachi arrested two local drug peddlers identified as Hassan Ali and Javed along with 2.4 kilogrammes of hashish. They were arrested near Murtaza Churangi, Industrial Area, Landhi in Karachi. In another operation 3.5 kilogrammes of hashish was recovered from an accused namely Muhammad Shakeel, resident of Karachi, who was also arrested. As per reports, the accused was involved in distribution of drugs at local level.
Meanwhile, the ANF in its drive against absconders in narcotics cases arrested five absconders in different operations conducted in Sargodha, Multan, Lahore and Peshawar.
