August 31, 2007	Friday	Sha’aban 17, 1428

RAWALPINDI, Aug 30: The Anti-Narcotics Force has arrested a Nigerian lady smuggler along with 32 Pakistanis and seized 60.440 kg of heroin, including 220 heroin-filled capsules, 63.455 kg of charas and 25 litre liquor besides impounding three vehicles during 20 different operations.

This was stated by Commander Anti-Narcotics Force Rawalpindi Brigadier Asif Alvi at a press conference held here at his office on Wednesday.

The ANF commander said due to 34 per cent increase in narcotics trade in Afghanistan, Pakistan has been facing pressure, especially the ANF.

“We needed manpower to handle the situation,” Brigadier Asif Alvi said and added that in most of the cases the women were involved in trafficking.

The ANF commander said that a consignment containing 52 kg of heroin to be smuggled to Johannesburg (South Africa) was intercepted during a raid at Shaheen Cargo Islamabad international airport. The heroin was concealed in mango packs. During the raid Mohammad Iqbal was taken into custody.

Brigadier Asif Alvi said the ANF staff intercepted a passenger Mehmood Ahemd while he was boarding on a Dubai-bound flight from Islamabad. The 68 heroin filled capsules containing 0.560 kg of heroin were recovered from the accused.

In a similar crackdown, the ANF staff intercepted a passenger Abdul Farooq, a resident of Gujranwala at Islamabad airport and recovered 40 heroin-filled capsules containing 0.320 kg of heroin.

Similarly, 112 heroin filled capsules containing 0.775 kg of heroin were recovered from Ayaz Muhammad, who was to get on a China-bound flight.

The ANF commander said that 0.120 kg of heroin was recovered from Ashiq Hussain of Islamabad while 0.140 kg of heroin was recovered from Ghulam Abbas.

The ANF staff recovered 12 kg of charas from Muhammad Javed while 2 kg of heroin was recovered from a Dubai-bound flight passenger Asif Ali Butt.

The ANF commander said 5 kg of Opium was recovered from Mohammad Riaz and Lal Khan while 4.430 kg of charas and 3.570 kg of garda were recovered from Asif Khan of Pirwadhai.

Brigadier Asif Alvi said 2.300 kg of heroin was recovered from a Nigerian national lady Bosete and Ajmal Khan.

The ANF staff recovered 1.100 kg of charas garda from a car which was intercepted near Taxila. Three persons were arrested by the ANF staff during the raid.