ISLAMABAD: Drug liaison officers (DLOs) from 43 countries and international organisations are present in Pakistan to monitor the activities of the Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF).
“DLOs are appointed by their respective countries and organisations at embassies and they are directed to send daily report of the activities of the ANF and other related agencies to their governments and heads of organisations,” a source told this scribe.
The source said that the countries and organisations which had appointed DLOs at their embassies and offices included, Australia, Azerbaijan, Canada, China, DEA USA, NAS USA, Egypt, France, Germany, Indonesia, Japan, Kenya, Korea, Kuwait, Malaysia, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Philippines, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, NCA and BHC (UK), OLTS (UK), South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Turkey, Turkmenistan, UAE, Ukraine, UNDOC, Uzbekistan and Yemen.
“Besides the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB), Interpol along with Narcotics Affairs Section (NAS) and Drug Enforcement and Administration (DEA) of USA, UK, USA and China are ANF’s main partners which are substantially providing training, equipment and operational support to ANF,” the source said adding, “The common and shared responsibility is one of the key principles of UN Conventions.”
He said that in collaboration with international partners the ANF had taken stringent measures to check the flow of drug trafficking and achievements and efforts in this regard were highlighted by ANF and recognized and admired by the global community.
The source added that besides joint operations with Iran under Triangular Initiative of UNODC 47 Controlled Delivery operations in collaboration with 18 countries including Australia, China, UK, USA, Germany, Spain, UAE, Italy etc had been conducted to check narcotics trafficking from Pakistan.
“Moreover; the source said that ANF was pursuing all under process/ outstanding drafts MOUs 15 countries including Saudi Arabia, South Africa,. United Kingdom, Malta, Libya, Morocco, Ukraine, Turkmenistan,. Maldives, Nepal, Canada, Sultanate of Oman,. Mauritius,. Seychelles, European Union while revision of MOUs with following 5 countries including Afghanistan. Nigeria, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Kyrgyz Republic were also in the process.
The source said that being a national focal point on issues relating to drugs, ANF was responsible for sharing consolidated information with international organizations, bodies and counterparts like, INCB, UNODC and Drug LEAs of various countries as the shared statistics were used by UN in annual international publications which are reflective of country’s performance and resolve
In pursuance of UN Convention 1988, Pakistan made necessary legislation in the Counter Narcotics and Substances (CNS) Act 1997 by adding a chapter (VIII) exclusively dealing with “International Cooperation and Mutual Legal Assistance” with the foreign states in relation to the investigation and trial of narcotic cases.
Being a designate national focal point, ANF shares “real time” or “near real time” information with International stakeholders for joint operations.
