On Monday, August 18, 2024, the Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) conducted a series of 11 operations across Pakistan. They successfully recovered a total of 85 kg of drugs. The drugs are worth Rs 25 million. These operations led to the arrest of 11 individuals involved in narcotics smuggling.
The Operations
In Rawalpindi, ANF officers recovered 1 kg of ice from a parcel destined for Qatar at a local courier office. The discovery highlights how traffickers increasingly exploit seemingly innocuous means, like courier services, for smuggling narcotics and evade detection.
In the second operation, ANF officers seized 250 grams of ice from a passenger at Faisalabad Airport. The passenger was attempting to board a flight to Bahrain. In the third operation, officers recovered 189 grams of ice from another passenger at Lahore Airport. This passenger was also bound for Bahrain. These airport seizures underscore traffickers’ persistent efforts to smuggle narcotics through international flights. They exploit Pakistan’s key geographic location as a transit country.
The largest recovery took place near RCD Road in Lasbela, where ANF intercepted a vehicle and seized 40 kg of hashish and 14.4 kg of ice. ANF officers arrested one suspect during this operation, demonstrating the scale at which drug trafficking networks operate within the country. Such large-scale recoveries are critical in curbing the supply of narcotics domestically and internationally.
In Islamabad, officers recovered 9.6 kg of hashish from a woman they arrested near the M-1 motorway, and they seized another 7.2 kg of hashish from a motorcyclist they apprehended on GT Road, Attock. These cases illustrate the varied methods traffickers use to transport drugs, often using individuals as carriers to minimize risk.
Further Operations
Further operations in Torkham resulted in the recovery of 7.4 kg of hashish and 900 grams of ice, with one individual apprehended. In Lahore, near UET Gate-3, 3 kg of heroin were seized from three drug pushers, highlighting the urban spread of drug networks.
In the final two operations, ANF recovered 1 kg of ice from a suspect near Sher Shah Toll Plaza and 300 grams of ice from a woman arrested near Daska, Sialkot Road. These consistent recoveries indicate a well-coordinated effort by ANF to disrupt drug trafficking routes across the country.
These operations underscore the challenges Pakistan faces in combating drug trafficking. The variety of locations, from airports to remote highways, highlights the pervasive nature of the trade. While the seizures of drugs disrupt supply and signal law enforcement vigilance, the consistent recovery of smaller quantities across multiple sites suggests that demand remains high and traffickers are adept at evading detection. Strengthening border controls, intelligence-sharing, and international cooperation will be crucial in this ongoing battle.
