ISLAMABAD: Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) has prosecuted 424 cases during 2016, of which 42 acquitted and 382 were convicted which shows 90 per cent successful conviction rate.
Four death penalties and 81 life imprisonments were also included in total prosecuted cases during the year. This year ANF has frozen Rs 839.7 million of assets, out of which Rs 19.07 million have been forfeited and Rs 6.95 million realized.
Official sources on Tuesday said ANF has also made substantial progress towards its capacity building whereby 547 new recruits has joined ranks, latest body-scanners have been deployed at major airports, mobility has been revamped and ANF Canine & Breeding Centre has met wishful target by providing 44 new dogs. During the year, ANF has undertaken 280 Demand Reduction Activities events throughout the country.
The sources said in addition to existing 145 bedded Drug Treatment Facilities at Islamabad, Quetta and Karachi, ANF is expanding this facility to 173 more beds at Karachi, Sukkur and Peshawar.
The ANF is also looking forward to extend requisite Drug Treatment facilities at all Central Jails at provincial Capitals of country.
ANF has provided free treatment to over 13,000 addict-patients in Hospitals and 1994 addict-prisoner at Adiala Jail, Rawalpindi.
The sources said ANF Balochistan has already burned 252 Tons of Narcotics at Quetta while ANF Sindh burned 20 Metric tons of Narcotics at Karachi.
The ANF Balochistan has already upgraded its deployment at Gwadar and further augmenting its intelligence ability, technical capability, mobility and cargo-filtration capacity. Furthermore, ANF Rawalpindi will hold Drug Burning ceremony in next month.ANF has arranged a ceremony the other day to burn 30 Metric tons of narcotics in Lahore.
Meanwhile, under its countrywide campaign, ANF has seized drugs weighing 9.5 tons and arrested 10 persons.
The Force has conducted 11 countrywide operations during which it seized drugs comprised 8.8 ton Hashish, 909 kg Morphine, 2.09 kg Heroin, 2.4 kg Amphetamine and one kg Opium. Two vehicles were also seized during operations.
Giving details of operations here on Tuesday, the ANF said its Quetta Force while carrying out an intelligence led operation seized 8.304 ton Hashish from district Qilla Abdullah.
The drug was stocked at an uninhabited site located at Killi Norak, Tehsil Gulistan, District Qilla Abdullah. Hashish was stuffed in plastic bags.
The drug was placed at a cache site for onward transportation to some unidentified location.
ANF Quetta in another intelligence led operation seized 909 kg Morphine from general area of Killi Wokar, Girdi Jungle, District Chagai. Drug was concealed alongside bank of a seasonal stream. In another operation, the ANF Rawalpindi arrested a drug carrier at Chungi No 26 Bus Stop and recovered 1.1 kg Hashish from his personal possession.
ANF Rawalpindi Airport Team also arrested a passenger, resident of Faisalabad at Benazir Bhutto International Airport, Islamabad and recovered 2.4 kg Amphetamine concealed in his trolley bag. He was to fly for Saudi Arabia by PIA Flight No PK-713. Yet in another operation, ANF Rawalpindi during routine checking near Iqbal Shaheed Toll Plaza, GT Road, Attock recovered 250 grams Heroin from personal possession of an accused who was arrested while travelling in a passenger van.
In fourth operation, ANF Rawalpindi apprehended a local drug peddler and recovered 900 grams Heroin from his personal possession. He was arrested from Bus Stand, Panyal Road, Gilgit.
ANF Lahore Airport Team intercepted a Nigerian lady namely Adijat Mojisola at Faisalabad Airport while she was to take off for Lagos by Qatar Airways Flight No. QR-623 and recovered 940 grams Heroin concealed in her beauty box.
ANF Peshawar Road Check Team intercepted a Cuore car near main Motorway Toll Plaza, Peshawar. Search of the car resulted in recovery of one kg Hashish and one kg Opium which were concealed in secret cavities of the car. Two persons on-board identified as Raheem Khan and Muhammad Adil, both residents of Lahore were arrested on the spot.
As per reports, drugs were being smuggled to Lahore for local use.
ANF Karachi intercepted a Suzuki car near Noorani Kabab House, PECHS Society, Karachi and recovered 295 kg Hashish concealed inside secret cavities of the car. Two persons on-board identified as Ashraf Shaheen, resident of Karachi and Atta Muhammad, resident of Nawabshah were arrested during the operation.
In another operation, ANF Karachi arrested a local drug supplier Abdul Razaq, resident of Tando Muhammad Khan along with 1.05 kg Hashish. He was arrested near Zeel Pak Cement Factory, Tando Muhammad Khan.
Yet in another operation, ANF Karachi arrested a local drug peddler Didar Ali and recovered 850 grams Hashish from his possession. He was arrested near Giddu Chowk, Hyderabad city.
All cases have been registered at respective ANF Police Stations and further investigation is underway. The ANF also arranged an Awareness Walk against Drug Abuse on Tuesday at PTC Chowk, Margalla Road (Khayaban-e-Iqbal), F-9 Park, Islamabad. Good number of people participated in the walk. They were holding banners and placards inscribed with slogans against narcotics.