Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: The Anti Narcotics Force (ANF) on Thursday seized 1,324.730 kilogrammes (kg) of drugs, worth Rs 8.64 billion in international market, and arrested 11 smugglers including two women.

A total of 14 countrywide operations were conducted at Pishin, Islamabad, Peshawar, Lahore, Sheikhupura, Kasur, Lodhran and Karachi. The seized drugs comprised 1,273.695kg of heroin, 47.6kg of hashish, 3.250kg of amphetamine and 300 grammes (g) of opium. During the operations, ANF also arrested 11 persons involved in drug trafficking including two women, and seized two vehicles.

According to reports, the ANF, Balochistan, while carrying out intelligence based operation, seized 1271kg of heroin from Karezat area of Pishin district. The drug consignments were to be shifted to some safe location at coastal area for smuggling to an unidentified destination. The ANF, Rawalpindi airport team, arrested Shoaib Rehman at the Benazir Bhutto International Airport, Islamabad, who admitted of ingesting heroin filled capsules.

The accused intended to fly for Italy (Rome). In second operation, ANF airport team arrested Abdul Razzaq at Benazir International Airport and recovered 600g of heroin, concealed in his bag. The accused intended to fly for Italy via Abu Dhabi. The ANF, Peshawar airport team, arrested Jan Gul at Peshawar Airport, and recovered 1.250kg of amphetamine concealed in his trolley bag. Later, X-Ray scanning of the accused revealed that he had also ingested heroin filled capsules.

The ANF, Peshawar, in second operation, recovered 300 grammes of opium and 3.6kg of hashish from two women, Azra and Laiba, both resident of Lahore, while travelling in a car near Motorway Toll Plaza, Peshawar. In third operation, the ANF team arrested Bilal Ali at Peshawar Airport and recovered one kilogramme of heroin concealed in his bag. He intended to fly for Sri Lanka (Colombo).

The ANF, Lahore, arrested Shahzada Muhammad Shahbaz at Shalimar Road and recovered two kilogrammes of hashish from his personal possession. In second operation, the ANF, Lahore, intercepted a car at Motorway Toll Plaza, Sheikhupura and recovered 500g of heroin and 2.4kg of hashish concealed inside the vehicle. The driver of the vehicle, Qasim Ullah, was arrested at the spot. In third operation, ANF, Lahore, intercepted a parcel of lady suits and shirts private courier company and recovered 115g of heroin concealed inside the parcel.

In the fourth operation, ANF, Lahore airport team, arrested, Muhammad Ijaz Khan Sahibzada, at Allama Iqbal International Airport and recovered two kilogrammes of amphetamine concealed in his trolley bag. The accused intended to fly for to UAE (Sharjah). In fifth operation, ANF, Lahore, intercepted a car at Lodhran Bypass and recovered 37.2kg of hashish concealed inside the vehicle. The driver of the vehicle, Abdullah, was also arrested.

The ANF, Karachi, intercepted a car and recovered 2.4kg of hashish from personal possession of the accused, Muhammad Khan, at Jinnah International Airport. In second operation, ANF team intercepted a parcel of being sent to UK from a private courier company and recovered 30g of heroin concealed in the parcel. The parcel was booked by Murreed Abbas and was intended to be received by Shamila Hussain.