RAWALPINDI: The Anti Narcotics Force (ANF) has claimed to have seized 5.18 tons of narcotics worth over Rs12 billion in the international market and arrested 11 people, two of them women, involved in drug trafficking in raids carried out across the country.

According to a press release issued by the ANF, the force carried out 10 successful operations in different parts of the country and seized huge cache of narcotics worth Rs 12.48bn. This included 5.17 tons of charas, 10kgs of heroin and 3kgs of opium. The ANF also arrested 11 drug dealers, including two women, and impounded two vehicles. Most of the drugs, the press release said, were going to be smuggled abroad.

In Balochistan, the force seized 5,166kgs of charas in tehsil Gulistan in district QiIa Abdullah. The drugs were hidden at an empty site in a mountainous area.

Initial information suggested that the charas was left at the site and was to be handed over to another narcotics gang. From there, the drugs were to be taken to a safe location near the coastal belt and then smuggled abroad by sea.

ANF personnel detained a passenger identified as Bahadur, a resident of Kurram Agency, at the Benazir Bhutto International Airport on suspicion of capsules filled with heroin. During interrogation, he confessed to have swallowed capsules containing heroin. He was going to Dubai.

In Jhelum, the ANF intercepted a car at Taraki Toll Plaza on GT Road near Sohawa and seized 3kgs of charas. The driver, Mohammad Aziz, a resident of Darra Adam Khel, was taken into custody.

The ANF carried out an operation in Bhara Kahu are of the capital and arrested a drug dealer identified as Amir Shahzad, a resident of Murree. His luggage contained about 1kg of heroin and charas.

Two women and a man were arrested near Quaidabad in Khushab for possessing 2.5kgs of heroin.

In Lahore, the ANF intercepted a parcel containing handbags meant to be sent to the United Kingdom by a courier service. The bags contained 0.4kgs of heroin.

Near the Motorway Toll Plaza in Peshawar, an ANF team intercepted a Rawalpindi-bound passenger van and arrested two men, Niaz Parwana and Arshad Khan, residents of Peshawar. They were found carrying 2.4kgs of charas.

The team intercepted another passenger coach at the same place and arrested a drug dealer identified as Bashir Khan, of Mohmand Agency, and seized 3kgs of opium he was carrying.

In Kohat, an ANF team searched a car on KDA Road and found 6kgs of heroin concealed in it. The driver of the vehicle, Hasiat Ali, a resident of Kohat, was taken into custody.

A drug dealer identified as Atta Hussain Shah of Shikarpur was apprehended for carrying 2kgs of charas.

Cases have been registered against all the accused and investigations are in progress.

Published in Dawn, September 1st, 2015

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