Daily Times

RAWALPINDI: The Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) seized huge quantity of drugs weighing 3.252 tonnes worth of Rs 2.05 billion in international market in 31 operations, which were conducted at Panjgur, Peshawar, Kohat, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Faisalabad, Multan, Sheikhupura, Karachi, Gilgit and Hyderabad.

The seized drugs comprised of 3.229 tonnes of hashish, 9.32 kilogrammes (kg) of heroin, 12.4 kg of opium and 1.66 kg of amphetamine. The operations also resulted in arrest of 37 persons and interception of 10 vehicles being used in drug smuggling. The ANF Quetta intercepted an oil tanker from Sorab area on Pasni-Gwadar Road and recovered 2.980 kg of hashish concealed in the improvised tank and additionally welded parts of the tanker.

The drug was being transported from Pasni via Gwadar and Panjgur for final dispatch to foreign destination, while the driver of the tanker, Abdul Wahid, resident of Pasni and his accomplice Qadeer Ahmed, resident of Kech district have also been arrested on the spot during the operation. The ANF Rawalpindi arrested an accused, resident of Charsadda at Benazir International Airport, Islamabad, who was travelling to Damam and recovered 460 grammes of amphetamine concealed in trolley bag of the passenger.

Meanwhile, ANF Rawalpindi, in the second operation, recovered 650 grammes of hashish from personal possession of the accused at Ghizar Road, Gilgit, while in third operation, an accused, resident of Mohmand Agency was arrested on suspicious of having heroin filled capsules in his abdomen at Benazir International Airport, Islamabad, who was travelling to Italy through Istanbul.

Similarly, the ANF Rawalpindi, in fourth operation, arrested an accused, resident of Peshawar at Benazir International Airport, Islamabad, who was travelling to South Africa via Dubai. In another operation, the ANF Rawalpindi recovered a car at Chungi 26 and recovered 11 packets of hashish concealed inside the vehicle, while the driver of the vehicle, Izhar Ahmed, resident of Khyber Agency, was arrested on the spot.

The ANF Rawalpindi, in sixth operation, intercepted a car at Chungi 26 and recovered four Kg of hashish concealed in the vehicle, while the driver of the vehicle, Aslam Sher Khan, resident of Peshawar have also been arrested. The ANF, in another operation, intercepted a car at Chungi 26 and recovered one kg of heroin concealed in the vehicle, while the driver of the vehicle Gul Rauf, resident of Peshawar have been arrested.

Meanwhile, the ANF Rawalpindi Airport Team, in another operation, arrested an accused on suspicion of ingested heroin filled capsules. During preliminary investigation, the accused confessed of having heroin filled capsules in his stomach. The accused intended to fly for Riyadh. The ANF Rawalpindi intercepted another vehicle at Chungi 26 and recovered 20 kg of hashish concealed inside the vehicle, while the driver of the vehicle namely Ahmed Ali, resident of Charasadda have been arrested on the spot.

Similarly, the ANF Lahore team arrested an accused namely Muhammad Saqlain, resident of Multan at Multan Airport, proceeding to Riadh via Dubai and recovered 1.2 kg of amphetamine concealed in his trolley bag. The ANF Lahore, in another operation, recovered one kg of hashish from personal possession of accused namely Shahbaz Hussain, resident of Multan at Qureshi Chowk, Multan, whereas a car was intercepted at Faizpur Motorway Interchange, Lahore and recovered 3.6 kg of hashish from accused namely Zahoor, resident of Peshawar. The ANF Lahore, intercepted another vehicle at the main gate of Allied Hospital, Faisalabad and recovered 9.6 kg of Hashish from three accused namely Abdul Basit, resident of Charsadda, Feroz Khan, resident of Khyber Agency and Shoukat Ali, resident of Faisalabad. Meanwhile, the ANF Lahore arrested an accused namely Iftikhar Qayyum, resident of Faisalabad at Allama Iqbal International Airport, who was proceeding to Denmark and recovered 405 grammes of heroin concealed in his undergarments.

Similarly, the ANF Lahore conducted a raid at a petrol pump near Nain Sukh Bus Stop, Sheikhupura and arrested an accused namely Bahadur Ali, resident of Lahore and Nayyar Nawaz, resident of UK, while six kg of heroin was recovered from the accused persons. The ANF Peshawar conducted an operation near Karkhano Market Phatak, Peshawar and arrested Muhammad Qasim, resident of Chiniot and Tanveer Ahmed, resident of Sargodha. The accused persons confessed of having narcotics-filed capsules in their abdomen, while a car was intercepted near Rashakai Interchange, Nowshera and recovered 3.6 kgs of hashish from accused namely Altaf Khan, resident of Khyber Agency. The ANF Peshawar recovered 1.15 kg of hashish from possession of an accused Muhammad Zada, resident of Sawabi, travelling at Motorway Toll Plaza, Peshawar. In another operation, the ANF Peshawar intercepted a car near a CNG station, Hungu Road, Kohat and recovered 2.4 kg of opium and 12 kg of hashish. Similarly, the ANF Karachi team conducted a raid at a drug den situated at Gul Goth, Karachi and recovered 1.15 kg of hashish from possession of accused Bahadur Khan, resident of Karachi.