RAWALPINDI: The Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) seized over 127 kilograms of narcotics, arrested 15 suspects and impounded four vehicles in 11 operations conducted recently in different parts of the country.

According to a press release issued by the ANF, the seized drugs included about 2.2kg heroin, 21kg opium and around 104kg Charas. Its value in the international market was estimated at Rs296 million.

Mohammad Shehbaz, a resident of Khushab, was arrested from Benazir Bhutto International Airport in Islamabad when he was about to board a flight for Riyadh. He confessed that he had heroin-filled capsules in his stomach.

On secret information, a car was intercepted in Rawalpindi and 2kg Charas was found in the possession of its two occupants. Rizwan Aslam and Arsalan Khan, believed to be local drug dealers, were arrested.

ANF personnel arrested another suspected drug pedlar, Mohammad Adil, from Taxila and recovered 1.2kg hashish from his possession. He was riding a motorcycle which was seized.

During routine checking at the Benazir Bhutto International Airport, the ANF staff arrested a passenger, Siraj, a resident of Kohistan, who

was to board a flight for Dubai. During interrogation, he confessed to swallowing heroin-filled capsules in order to smuggle them out of the country.

The ANF’s Lahore team arrested a passenger, Faiz Khalil, at the Allama Iqbal International Airport and seized 900 grams Charas concealed in his shoes. He intended to fly to Dubai by an Air Blue flight.

During routine checking, ANF staff intercepted a jeep in Khanewal. During search, 21kg opium concealed in its cavities was found. Two occupants of the vehicle – Mohammad Hussain and Mohammad Ayub, both residents of Peshawar, were arrested.

ANF personnel conducted a raid near Fatima Jinnah Park on Khawaja Safdar Road in Sialkot and arrested three suspected drug pushers along with 500 grams of heroin. They were identified as Ibrar and Iftikhar, residents of Sialkot, and Mohammad Jamil of Sahiwal.

Sajid Ali, a resident of Nankana Sahib, was arrested along with 700 grams of heroin. The heroin was concealed in surgical instruments and was intended to be sent abroad through a courier service.

An ANF team intercepted a suspected van near Lady Garden in Abbottabad and seized 1.02kg Charas on its occupants. An investigation suggested Bilal Ahmed and Ghazanfar Rehman were involved in drug trade.

In Balochistan, ANF personnel recovered 99kg Charas from Taloo Landi area near Veeran Killi in Chagai district in an intelligence-driven operation.

The ANF staff arrested a passenger – Shams Rafaqat, a resident of Sialkot – from Quetta Airport and recovered 1kg heroin concealed in his bag. The accused was about to board a flight for Jeddah.

Cases have been registered against the suspects at different police stations.

Published in Dawn ,July 13th, 2015

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