ISLAMABAD: Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) seized nearly one tonne of drugs, worth Rs 1.1 billion in international market, during 18 separate operations at Islamabad, Lahore, Peshawar, Karachi, Quetta, Rawalpindi, Gilgit, Hyderabad, Nowshero Feroze, Qilla Abdullah and Panjgoor.
The operations also resulted in arrest of 22 persons including a lady involved in drug smuggling. The recovered drugs comprised 5.56 kilograms heroin, 756 kilograms opium and 107 kilograms hashish. The forces also impounded three vehicles during these operations.
Carrying out an intelligence-based operation, the ANF Quetta intercepted an oil tanker at the Panjgoor Highway in Panjgoor and recovered 720 kilograms opium and 80 kilograms hashish concealed inside the improvised cavities of the vehicle. However, the persons on board managed to flee from the scene taking advantage of the darkness.
In another operation, the ANF Quetta seized 36kg opium and eight kilograms hashish at Qilla Abdullah. As per initial report, the drugs were placed on an unattended motorcycle for handing over to some other narcotics gang. In addition, ANF recovered five kilograms hashish from the possession of the two local peddlers, as they were riding on a motorcycle near FC Hospital in Quetta.
ANF Rawalpindi recovered 100 gram heroin from possession of a drug peddler, a resident of Bannu, who was arrested near from the Satellite Town. In another operation, ANF apprehended a local drug supplier, a resident of Astore, along with 900 gram hashish. He was arrested near a Jutial bus stand in Gilgit.
In Islamabad, ANF recovered 90 gram hashish from a lady who was arrested from COD Chowk. The ANF personnel arrested a drug peddler and recovered 600 gram hashish from his possession in Gilgit. ANF arrested a Nigerian national at the Allama Iqbal International Airport in Lahore while he was to fly for Nigeria by flight NL-766 and recovered 700 grams heroin concealed in his trolley bag.
In another operation, ANF intercepted a UK destined parcel at an office of a courier service company situated in Johar Town in Lahore and seized 810 gram heroin concealed inside the wooden crafts. The forces also arrested a passenger at the Peshawar Airport and recovered 1.36kg heroin from heroin-filled capsules.