ISLAMABAD: The Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) has seized mega cache of 12 tons of drugs, including 7.8 ton opium, 4.4 ton poppy straw and 70 kg hashish worth Rs 10.2 billion during six different operations across the country and arrested five accused drug traffickers besides seizing two vehicles.
According to details, an ANF Rawalpindi road check team, while acting on a tipoff, intercepted a truck with Registered No C-2781-Mardan near Tarnol, GT Road and recovered 4,400kg poppy straw.
Driver of the truck, identified as accused Iftikhar Khan, resident of Peshawar, was taken into custody. As per initial information, poppy straw was being transferred to Southern Punjab for preparation of drug.
Similarly, the ANF Quetta in two different intelligence-led operations, launched at Killi Nasai and Killi Dilsore, Tehsil Muslim Bagh, District Qilla Saifullah, seized huge consignments of opium weighing 4,604kg and 3,243kg respectively. Both drug consignments were stocked at desolate sites situated in the mountainous terrain far away from the populated area. As per report, the drug consignments were to be shifted to some safe location at Costal Belt for onward transportation to some foreign territory after receipt of safe signal.
In another operation, the ANF Lahore intercepted a car near Thokar Niaz Baig, Multan Road Bypasse and recovered 10.2 kg hashish concealed in it. Two drug traffickers including Fazal Malik and Sami-ul-Haq, residents of Khyber Agency were also arrested during operations.
Moreover, an ANF Peshawar road check team recovered 9.6kg hashish from personal possession of an accused Arshad Khan and his female accomplice Shahida, both residents of Peshawar, while they were travelling to Mardan in a passenger van. They were arrested at GT Road near Pabi, Nowshera.
The ANF Karachi, in an information-based raid at a place adjacent to Bismillah Market Sabzi Mandi, Super Highway, seized 50kg hashish which was concealed in dense bushes.
The cases have been registered at respective ANF police stations and further investigation is underway.
