RAWALPINDI: Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) has seized over 383 tons drugs including opium, morphine, heroin and hashish during the last two and half years.
Talking to media here on Tuesday, Spokesman for the Anti-Narcotics Force, Lt. Col Mohammad Ishtiaq Ahmed informed that ANF conducted raids in various cities of the country and recovered 150 tons drugs in 2013 and 158 tons in 2014 while so far in 2015, ANF has seized over 75 tons drugs worth billions of rupees.
He said, Operational set-up of the ANF and its stations are spread all over the country. Col. Ishtiaq said, ANF had traced some bigwigs involved in drug trafficking and after selling their immovable assets, added a huge amount in the national exchequer.
He informed that according to a United Nations (UN) report Afghanistan is the largest producer of opium as it is producing opium and poppy on an area spread over 224,000 hectares.
The spokesman said, the production of illicit drugs in Afghanistan is a big challenge for ANF and poses severe threat to Pakistan, as drug traffickers strive to smuggle illegal drugs from Pakistan to other countries.
Out of the total production of drugs in Afghanistan, 40 percent is being smuggled via Pakistan, he said adding, the ANF has adopted stringent measures with extraordinary steps to stop smuggling.
He informed that ANF has been receiving information through different sources regarding increased heroin trafficking to Gulf Countries, ANF deployed its sources to identify International drug gangs involved in its trafficking.
Last year, ANF got information regarding a KPK based gang headed by Aqal Khan, involved in drug trafficking to Middle East and West Africa.
A year-long investigation resulted in gathering of valuable information on Aqal Khan which was shared with counterparts to unearth further links in Middle East. The analysis of intelligence revealed that Aqal is not only involved in smuggling of Heroin but also transacts drug money through Hawalaâ on a large scale. His other associates in Pakistan and various linkages in Afghanistan and Africa were also identified. Four key associates of Aqal based in Pakistan were identified as Younas, Ijaz Khan, Haji Khyber and Haji Murad.
After Interpol Red Warrant issued against Aqal Khan, ANF intensified its efforts to track him down and managed to place its sources to gather actionable intelligence. Efforts got productive when ANF received information that Aqal and his associates would deliver drugs from Peshawar to Rawalpindi for transportation to Middle East. After continuous surveillance/observations for three days, ANF identified a suspected car.
ANF team carried out a successful operation and intercepted a Toyota Car at Jhangi Syedan, here on June 16. During search, 10 kg heroin was recovered from the car and Aqal Khan son of Yar Khan resident of Khyber Agency, Younas s/o Khan Haider r/o Khyber Agency, Muhammad Arshad s/o Fazal Naeem r/o Peshawar and Ghilaf Gull s/o Hiran Gul r/o Khyber Agency were sent behind the bars.
To another question he informed that total 1108 persons were netted in 2014 while 888 cases were registered against the accused. 686 persons involved in drug trafficking were nabbed in 2015 with 546 FIRs registered against them.
The spokesman said, over 70 drug trafficking organizations (DTOs) were busted last year while so far, in 2015 total 31 DTOs including seven international and 23 domestic have been smashed.
To a question he said, Pakistan has been declared a poppy free state since 2011.
