ISLAMABAD: The Anti Narcotics Force (ANF) seized 2.66 tonnes of narcotics and 1.92 tonnes prohibited chemical valuing Rs 4.12 billion in the international market, arresting 32 drug pushers including three ladies involved in drug trafficking and also impounded 10 vehicles while conducting 27 counter-narcotics strikes across the country.
The seized drugs comprised 2,030 kilogramme opium, 547kg hashish, 83kg heroin, 3kg methamphetamine, 1.24kg amphetamine and 1,920kg acetone.
The ANF while carrying out an intelligence based operation at a mountainous area of Jodar, Tehsil Mashkel, District Washuk, seized 1,080kg opium and 46kg heroin. The drugs were stocked at an isolated site. In another operation, the ANF intercepted a Toyota Corolla car near Meezan Chowk, Quetta and recovered 10kg hashish from secret cavities of the car. A person on board identified as Shah Hussain resident of Pishin was also arrested on the spot. Yet in another operation, the ANF Quetta raided a site located in the mountainous area of Pushkan, Tehsil Pasni, District Gwadar and seized 185kg hashish.
During a fourth operation, the ANF Quetta recovered 939kg opium from a desolate site situated in the area of Manthu, Tehsil Chaman, District Qilla Abdullah. In a fifth operation, the ANF Quetta intercepted a land cruiser near Palantak, District Panjgur and seized 15kg heroin concealed in improvised cavities of the vehicle. However, the persons on board managed to flee from the scene taking advantage of the darkness. In a sixth operation, the ANF Quetta while raiding a deserted hut located at a general area of Kuchlak, District Panjgur, seized 10kg heroin placed at the site.
In addition, the ANF Quetta recovered 213kg hashish from an abandoned house situated at Killi Abdullah Jan, Tehsil and District Pishin. As per initial reports, most of the stocked drugs were intended to be handed over to other narcotics gangs.
The ANF Rawalpindi in pursuance of information intercepted two motorcycles near Iqbal Shaheed Toll Plaza, GT Road, Attock and arrested Ijaz Ahmed, Nazo Bibi and Attique Jan along with 10.5kg opium and 2kg hashish from their possession. In another operation, ANF Rawalpindi intercepted a Cultus near Kohinoor Mills Bus Stop, Peshawar Road, Rawalpindi and recovered 10kg hashish from secret cavities of the car. Two persons on board identified as Yasin Shah, resident of Charsadda and Ikramuddin, resident of Nowshehra were also arrested during the operation.
The ANF Lahore on pursuance of a source information raided a house located near Godar Chowk, Multan-DG Khan Road, Muzaffargarh and seized 3kg hashish concealed inside the premises. In another operation, ANF Lahore arrested a foreign bound passenger identified as Abdul Wahab resident of Karachi at Allama Iqbal International Airport, Lahore and recovered 400 gramme of heroin concealed in two shampoo bottles. The accused was boarding for Sri Lanka by flight UL-186.
Yet in another operation, ANF Lahore recovered 2.5kg heroin from a parcel being sent to UK through a private courier service company based in Lahore. Follow-up operation resulted in the arrest of the accused sender namely Muhammad Shahzad resident of Lahore. In another operation, ANF Lahore intercepted a motorcycle near Kamal CNG Gas Point, Khokhar Chowk, Johar Town, Lahore and recovered 6kg hashish from personal possession of the accused identified as Muhammad Afzal, resident of Lahore. The ANF Lahore also intercepted a Honda Civic near Haroon Express Bus Stand, Multan Road, Lahore and recovered 36kg hashish from secret cavities of the car, also arresting the offenders identified as Umar Daraz, Amjad Hayat and Muhammad Abdullah.
The ANF Peshawar during a routine profiling near motorway toll plaza, Peshawar arrested Muhammad Bilal resident of Khyber Agency along with 600 gramme hashish and a lady namely Parveen Bibi resident of Peshawar along with 2.4kg hashish in two separate operations while they were travelling in passenger vans separately. In another operation, ANF Peshawar Airport Team detained a passenger named as Khaista Rehman resident of Nowshehra at Peshawar Airport while he was boarding for Riyadh by Shaheen Airline Flight NL-723 and recovered 1.24kg amphetamine concealed in a box containing clothes. In another operation, ANF Peshawar recovered 2.4kg hashish from possession of Mukhtiar Khan, a resident of Peshawar who was arrested near Rashkai Interchange, Nowshera. In a fourth operation, ANF Peshawar while acting upon a tip-off intercepted two cars including Toyota Corolla Fielder and Suzuki Mehran near Pando Chowk, Ring Road, Peshawar and recovered 1.8kg and 1.2kg methamphetamine respectively concealed in secret cavities of the cars. Five offenders on board identified as Khan Khel, Jan Muhammad, Majeed Khan residents of Khyber Agency, Ghulamullah resident of Peshawar and Wais, an Afghan national were arrested during the operation.
Published in Daily Times, March 29th 2018.