ISLAMABAD: The Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) has seized 4.7-tonne drugs, including 3.456-tonne hashish, 1.261-tonne heroin, 5.65kg opium and 5.35kg amphetamine, in 17 different countrywide operations.
During the operations, 20 alleged traffickers, including three females, were arrested, while four vehicles were also seized. These operations were conducted in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Attock, Gilgit, Sialkot, Lahore, Faislabad, Sheikhupura, Peshawar, Karachi, Shikarpur and Pishin.
According to details, ANF Balochistan while carrying out an intelligence-led operation seized 3.324-tonne hashish and 1.250-tonne heroin from District Pishin. The drug consignments were secretly stocked at uninhabited site located at Shin Ghar, Killi Sardar Kamal Khan, Tehsil Barshore. As per preliminary investigations, the drug consignments were placed for handing over to some other narcotics gang and were intended to be shifted to some safe location at Coastal Area for smuggling to an unidentified destination.
The ANF Rawalpindi’s road-checking team during routine checking intercepted a suspected Toyota Corolla car near Mandra Toll Plaza, GT Road. Search of the car led to seizure of 5kg hashish concealed in secret cavities of the car. An accused on board namely was also arrested during the operation.
In another operation, ANF Rawalpindi intercepted an accused at Departure Point, Sost Border and recovered 1.7 Kg Heroin concealed in a fruit basket.
After initial investigations, another accused was arrested from a hotel situated in nearby area along with recovery of 3.8 kg heroin. Heroin was being transported to China.
Yet in another operation, the ANF Rawalpindi airport team detained a foreign-bound passenger, identified as Muhammad Ibrahim, hailing from Khushab at Benazir International Airport, Islamabad on suspicion of having heroin-filled capsules. During investigation, the accused confessed to having ingested heroin-filled capsules. The accused was boarding for Dubai.
In fourth operation, ANF Rawalpindi arrested a local drug supplier and recovered 1.5kg hashish from his personal possession. He was arrested from Madni Chowk, Attock city.
In fifth operation, ANF Rawalpindi arrested a local drug peddler and recovered 1.1kg hashish from his possession. He was arrested near Asfand Yar Bukhari Hospital, Attock City.
ANF Lahore airport team, during routine profiling at Allama Iqbal International Airport, arrested a foreign-bound passenger, identified as Ahmed Khan resident of Khushab, while he was boarding for Jeddah by Saudi Airline Flight No SV-735 and recovered 4.9kg amphetamine concealed in his trolley bag.
In another operation, ANF Lahore’s road-check team, on pursuance of information arrested a drug carrier, identified as Usman Ghani and resident of Upper Dir, and recovered 5kg heroin from his luggage. He was arrested while travelling in a passenger bus near main motorway toll plaza, Faisalabad.
Yet in another operation, ANF Lahore road check team while acting on a tipoff intercepted a Toyota Land Cruiser near main motorway toll plaza, Sheikhupura. Search of the vehicle led to seizure of 22.8kg hashish and 2kg opium which was concealed in improvised cavities of the vehicle. A person onboard namely Noor Muhammad, resident of Peshawar was also arrested during the operation.
In fourth operation, ANF Lahore while arresting a drug carrier namely Laik Zaman resident of Sawabi, recovered 2kg opium and 3.6kg hashish from his personal possession. The accused was arrested near bus stop, main motorway toll plaza, Sheikhupura. In fifth operation, ANF Lahore airport team arrested a passenger namely Feroze Ali, resident of Charsadda at Sialkot Airport, while he was to take off for Sharjah by Air Arabia Flight No. G9-552 and recovered 450 gram Ice concealed in his trolley bag.
The ANF Peshawar’s road checking team arrested two females, both residents of Pakpattan, recovering 650g opium and 500g heroin from their possession. They were arrested near main motorway toll plaza, Peshawar, while travelling in a passenger bus.
In another operation, ANF Peshawar recovered 3.6kg hashish from personal possession of an accused, namely Muhammad Kamran and resident of Hangu, while he was travelling in a passenger van near motorway toll plaza, Peshawar.
Yet in another operation, ANF Peshawar arrested a female smuggler, resident of Peshawar and his male accomplice namely Zulfiqar Khan and resident of Mardan, recovering 2.3kg hashish from their possession. They were arrested near motorway toll plaza, Peshawar while travelling in a passenger van.
ANF Karachi on pursuance of information intercepted a car at Baloch Colony, Qayyumabad, Karachi. During search of the car, 81kg hashish was seized, which was tactfully concealed inside the trunk of the car. An accused onboard identified as Inayat Ullah was taken into custody on the sport.
In another operation, ANF Karachi raided a drug den being run at village Abdu, Tehsil Lakhi, District Shikarpur and arrested a drug peddler named Rashid Shah along with recovery of 1.3kg hashish, which was found in his personnel possession. Yet in another, operation ANF Karachi recovered 170g heroin and 3.95kg hashish from possession of an accused namely Muhammad Amin and resident of Karachi. He was arrested near Al-Asif Square, Lyari Express Way, Sohrab Goth.
ANF Karachi in fourth operation intercepted a Pajero Land Cruiser near Lakki Marwat Hotel, Pano Aqil, District Sukkur and recovered 6.3kg hashish concealed in it. An accused namely Yousaf Khan and resident of Lakki Marwat was also arrested during the operation.
All the cases have been registered at respective ANF police stations and further investigation is underway.