|
|
|
| October 1, 2005 | Saturday | Sha'aban 26, 1426 |
‘20 foreign drug traffickers held in two weeks’
PESHAWAR, Sept 30: The Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) has arrested 20 foreigners and members of several international gangs of drug traffickers and recovered 75kg of heroin during the last two weeks, said a senior official.
Ghana national Isaac Ibraham, the ringleader of one of the international narcotics gang known as The Boss, was arrested on Thursday night from the Peshawar International Airport while he was trying to board a plane for Ghana via Bahrain, said Brig Najmul Hasan Jameel, the provincial in-charge of ANF during a press conference here on Friday.
He said that the ANF team while searching Isaac’s luggage recovered 11kg of heroin which had been concealed in orthopaedic equipment.
He said that he was the last member of the international drug smugglers’ gangs to be arrested, and added that the ANF had arrested a Turkish national, Cengiz, from the Peshawar airport almost two weeks ago.
Brig Jameel said that Cengiz was carrying 37kg of heroin in his baggage without concealing it. “We are investigating as to how he dared to carry the white powder without concealing it in his suitcase.”
He, however, avoided saying whether the ANF was also interrogating different agencies’ officials deputed at the Peshawar airport.
He said that the ANF arrested Toure Binta, a Guinea national popularly known as the “Black Queen,” about 10 days back with five kg of heroin in her luggage. She was also arrested from the airport, he added.
He said that the 17 remaining members of the gang were arrested on the information provided by Cengiz and Toure Binta.
He said that the other members of the gang include Ms Ayen Hajir (Kenya), Ms Raphia (Tanzania), Latif (Tanzania), Olusegum Samuel (Nigeria), Job Ikeokwo (Nigera), Ozor Chindibere Patrick (Nigeria), Gerje (Ghana), Ukapona Rita (Nigeria), Danel Imuze (Nigeria), Sunday Kenneth Ukeh (Nigeria), Abdul Shakoor (Afghanistan), Meyer Matthys Perrus (South Africa), Kazim Abas (Nigeria), Ayide Mjimoh (Nigeria), Putter Edward Phillupus (South Africa), Jamiu (Nigeria), Adolf Silver Rhermannroyan (Tanzania) and Creegezan Ortiaz Ricardo (Spain).
Brig Jameel said: “We have sent all the names and the gang members’ photographs to Interpol and we are still optimistic about arresting the other members of the gang.”
To a query, he disclosed that the Interpol had requested them to arrest a Pakistani drug barren wanted by several countries in drug-smuggling cases. He denied to provide the name of the accused and only said that he belonged to the tribal region.
The ANF provincial chief said that these foreigners were doing illegal trade in connivance with local drug smugglers. “We have arrested 75 Pakistani drug smugglers also in the present year,” he said.
The ANF in the year 2005 seized 100kg of heroin, 2,42kg of hashish, 59.11kg of opium and 170 maunds of poppy capsules in the Frontier province.
It was observed that most of the members of international drug smugglers’ gang belonged to Nigeria and they were innovating new strategies to smuggle heroin from Pakistan to other countries.
He said that in Pakistan most of the drug smugglers were transporting drugs from one region to another with the help of vehicles carrying fake government plates, so it was difficult for the ANF teams to stop such vehicles and check them thoroughly.
|
|
|
|
