MULTAN: World Anti Narcotics Day was celebrated to spread awareness about drugs in Multan. Deputy Collector Customs Dr Muhammad Ali was present on the occasion and said that such an activity gives clear message to people that law enforcement agencies will not tolerate drug trafficking in the region.
He said that health is the ongoing subject matter of the world drug day campaign and young people often talk about the ‘highs’ induced by illicit drugs but may not be aware of the many ‘lows’. Illicit drug use is a concern because it poses a serious threat to health.
The deputy collector informed that Customs confiscated 50,000 kg hashish, 2,800 kg heroin, 226 kg cocaine in the last four years.
He emphasised that due to increase in drug addicts of drug injection different health issues are also increasing day by day like HIV and AIDS.
According to reports of Anti Narcotics Force Punjab, 335 people were arrested in drug smuggling, six sentenced to death, 45 were imprisoned to life and 258 were awarded ten years imprisonment.
Although the department did not destroy the narcotics within their possession, it carried out massive awareness campaign in the city regarding the hazards of the narcotics on the eve of World Anti-Narcotics Day.
More than 90 per cent of the illicit drugs produced in the world share are produced in Afghanistan. Ultimately border drug trafficking is the main concern for law enforcement agencies and Anti Narcotics Force.
Government has set many rehabilitation and counselling centres in different cities to reduce drug effects.
Different seminars were conducted in the day by Anti Narcotics Force, Social Welfare department to create awareness about effects of drug addiction on health.