November 12, 2003	Wednesday	Ramazan 16, 1424

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QUETTA, Nov 11: Anti-Narcotics Force Quetta has busted an international gang of drug smugglers and arrested six foreigners, including a woman, from a local hotel and recovered 3.8 kg of fine quality heroin on Tuesday.

Separately, the ANF men also seized 1,000 kg of heroin from border area close to Pakistan-Afghanistan border in Chagai district on Tuesday evening after a shootout with drug smugglers.

“We have arrested six African nationals along with drugs from a hotel,” a senior officer of ANF Balochistan said. They include four Nigerians, one Kenyan, and a woman who belongs to Ghana.

“They are members of an international gang of drug smugglers,” the ANF officials said, and added that they had come to Quetta from Lahore, Rawalpindi three days ago.

“All the African nationals were scheduled to take PIA flight to Dubai with their consignment on Tuesday,” ANF sources said, and added that heroin was concealed in specially-created cavities in pieces of a portable TV trolley. The weight of the trolley forced the ANF staff to check its different parts.

On being tipped-off, the ANF troops conducted raids on different hotels of the city and, during search, arrested six African nationals who were about to leave for airport to take the Dubai-bound PIA flight.

Sources said these foreigners reached Quetta some days back and were staying in different hotels. During their stay they purchased heroin which was very carefully concealed in secret cavities of the trolley.

The members of international drug smugglers gang include Maduka Nicholas, Williams Okelue Amala, Patrick Olika, Okafor Donatus Chnkwuma (Nigerian), David Kive (Kenyan) and Miss Joyce of Ghana.

A case has been registered against the six African nationals and investigation launched.

The ANF men also raided a secret place some 80-km northeast of Dalbandin , and seized 1,000 kg of heroin after heavy exchange of fire with armed men who were guarding the illicit cargo.