March 8, 2003	Saturday	Muharram 4, 1424

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ISLAMABAD, March 7: The Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) during the first two months of the current year has seized more than 2,600 kg of hashish and over 31 kg of heroin in different raids conducted all over the country.

In January, the ANF seized 870 kg of hashish in Balochistan, 785 kg in the NWFP, 285 kg in Rawalpindi and 125 kg in Karachi.

Over the same period, the ANF seized more than 20 kg of heroin and the biggest seizures were made in Peshawar where more than eight kg of heroin was seized.

From Lahore more than seven kg and from Karachi more than five kg of heroin were seized in different raids conducted by the ANF.

In February, the smuggling of narcotics showed a considerable decline and the total recoveries of hashish and heroin were recorded as low as 589 kg and 10.850 kg, respectively.

The biggest quantity was seized from Balochistan from where 300 kg of hashish and 10 kg of heroin were seized.

The second biggest haul was made in Karachi where a total of 204 kg of hashish was seized by the ANF.

The sources said the available statistics reflected a clear pattern that most of the smuggling was being done through Balochistan province.

It could be because Balochistan had a vast desert area and provided a much closer passage to the sea for the onward smuggling of these contraband, they said.

During the year 2002, the ANF seized 24,634 kg of hashish in addition to 2,452 kg of heroin, 1,946 kg of morphine and about 926 kg of opium in different raids all over the country.

About 9,313 kg of hashish was seized from Balochistan followed by 8.228 kg from Karachi, out of a total of 24,634 kg seizures, they said.

Similarly, they said, the maximum quantity of heroin, amounting to over 2,053 kg, was also seized from Balochistan, the fact which clearly indicated that the narcotics smugglers were more active in those areas.