ISLAMABAD: The Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF), in its drive against drug trafficking, has conducted 14 operations in different cities including Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Attock, Lahore, Faisalabad, Peshawar, Karachi and Lasbela and recovered a huge quantity of drugs worth Rs1.11 billion.
The ANF seized 161kg heroin, 34kg charas, 2.7kg opium and arrested 16 alleged drug traffickers including two women, besides apprehending three vehicles. Most of the recovered drugs were being smuggled abroad.
As per detail, ANF Balochistan on a tipoff intercepted a Hino oil tanker No CHI-0089 at Zero Point, Ormora, Coastal Higway, District Lasbela and recovered 160kg fine quality heroin concealed inside the additional fuel tank in eight polythene bags. The ANF team arrested two drug smugglers namely Moula Bux and Maqsood Ahmed and also seized the tanker. According to preliminary investigation, heroin was being transported from Hub to Karachi, and would be smuggled abroad later.
The ANF Lahore conducted an operation near main gate of Jinnah Hospital, and recovered 5.5kg charas, while arresting three drug traffickers including two women namely Shazia r/o Khuber Agency and Asma r/o Nowshera along with their male accomplice Muhammad Imran.
Another ANF Lahore team recovered 3kg charas from personal possession of Waris Khan r/o Distict Sawabi during a raid at Niazi Bus Stand, Bund Road.
In another raid in Lahore, the ANF apprehended an accused, Dolat Khan r/o Charsaddah, from Gourmet Bakers, G-1 Market, Johar Town and recovered 2.2kg opium.
ANF Road Check Team conducted an operation near main Motorway Toll Plaza, Faisalabad, detained an accused Muhammad Waris s/o Bashir Ahmed r/o Chiniot and recovered 2.4kg Charas from his personal possession. He was arrested from a passenger bus coming from Peshawar. According to initial investigation, the accused was transporting drugs to Chiniot for local use.
ANF Rawalpindi conducted an operation near main Bus Stand, Attock City and recovered 1.5kg charas from an Afghan national Abd-ur-Rehman currently residing at Afghan Refugee Camp No. 15, District Haripur.
Meanwhile, ANF Rawalpindi intercepted a consignment at APX Courier Office, containing mini hanging balls used as interior decoration for cars, and recovered 335gram heroin concealed inside the consignment. As per reports, the consignment was dispatched by Nasir Jamal r/o Sialkot and was intended for a recipient namely John Cawley residing at Hudderfields, West Yorkshire, UK.
The ANF, in an operation conducted near Shell Petrol Pump, Ali Pur Farash, Lehtrar Road, Islamabad, nabbed Ghulam Shabir and recovered 500g charas.
An ANF team also intercepted a passenger, Naveed Masih r/o Mardan at Benazir International Airport, Islamabad who confessed of having ingested heroin filled capsules. Later, the accused was shifted to Benazir Bhutto Hospital, Rawalpindi for recovery of capsules. He was to fly for Abu Dhabi by Shaheen Airline Flight No. NL-551.
The ANF Rawalpindi team seized a Toyota Corolla car No. 196-572 at Burhan Motorway Interchange and recovered 8kg charas (Garada), concealed in secret cavities of the car. A drug trafficker namely Shabir Shah Afridi r/o Khyber Agency was also held on the spot.
Moreover, the ANF team detained a foreign bound passenger Mustaqeem Shah r/o Mardan at Peshawar Airport and recovered 800g heroin concealed in his shoes. He was going to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia through PIA Flight No. PK-894.
An ANF Peshawar Road Check Team during search of a Hiace van near main Motorway Toll Plaza, Peshawar, recovered 1kg charas (Garda). During the operation an individual namely Nazir Muhammad r/o Khyber Agency was also arrested.
Another ANF Road Check Team arrested a passenger Syed Daud Shah and recovered 6kg charas (Garda) and 500g opium from his possession. He was taken into custody near main Motorway Toll Plaza, Peshawar while travelling in a passenger Hiace van.
In Karachi, the ANF in an operation carried out near Ghazni Khel, Auto Bhan Road, Hyderabad, held a local drug trafficker Bakht Nazir along with 6kg charas.
All cases have been registered at ANF police stations and further investigations are under progress.