RAWALPINDI: The Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) has confiscated 283kg of narcotics worth Rs1.64 billion in five raids across the country.

A statement issued on Tuesday said the ANF seized 240kg of heroin, 42.2kg charas and 500 grams of cocaine and arrested six people, among them a woman.

In of the raids, an ANF squad seized 240kg of heroin and 40kg charas and arrested a suspect from a rice godown in Karachi. The place was being used as a cache site and the contraband was to be handed over to an international drug smuggling ring for being sent to Holland. It was packed in rice consignment. The place is owned by Ruby Kamran of Karachi.

One Muhammad Iqbal, hailing from Khushab, was arrested from the Jinnah International Airport while trying to smuggle 65 heroin-filled capsules in his stomach to Dubai.

The ANF staff raided a Fedex Courier Service centre in Lahore and seized 500 grams of cocaine brought in from the US, which was supposed to be delivered to one Allah Yar of Kasur. Two people were arrested.

An Abu Dhabi destined passenger, Noor Qasim of Kurram Agency, was arrested from the Benazir International Airport, Islamabad, and taken to a hospital for the retrieval of 45 heroin-filled capsules he had ingested.

The ANF intercepted a van near the Peshawar Motorway Toll Plaza and seized 2.4kg of charas concealed in a shopping bag from a passenger, Samina Bibi of Rawalpindi.

The drug was meant for local consumption.

Published in Dawn February 18th , 2015

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