RAWALPINDI: The Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) has seized a large cache of narcotics in six recent operations and arrested four suspects.

According to an ANF spokesman, the seized drugs include 1.53 tons of heroin, 13.4 tons of Charas, 28kg morphine, 157kg opium and 480 grams of the drug called “ice”. The value of the drugs in international market is estimated at Rs42.2 billion.

A mini-truck being used for drug transportation was impounded.

According to the spokesman, personnel of the ANF’s Quetta branch carried out an intelligence-based operation in Killi Dagar area of Barshore tehsil in Pishin district and recovered 1.49 tons of heroin from an uninhabited area.

The heroin was stuffed in plastic sacks hidden in mountain clefts.

According to initial investigation, the drug consignment was sent by a suspected smuggler, Haji Mehmood Ailzai, who is based in Helmand province of Afghanistan, and received by Haji Wali Mohammad Baloch, a notorious drug dealer of Balochistan.

The consignment was intended to be shifted to a “safe” area at the coastal belt of Balochistan and then to be smuggled abroad via sea.

On an intelligence report, the ANF Peshawar personnel conducted a raid near Garyalla village on Rostam Road in Mardan and seized 13 tons of Charas, 157kg opium, 46kg heroin and 28kg morphine kept at an isolated place.

The ANF’s Rawalpindi team, during routine profiling at Benazir Bhutto International Airport, detained a passenger, Mohammad Ilyas, a resident of Muzaffarabad in Azad Kashmir, on suspicion of carrying drugs. During search of his luggage, 1kg heroin was found in his bag. The suspect intended to go to Colombo via Doha on a Qatar Airlines flight.

The ANF’s Lahore-Sialkot team seized a parcel containing sports goods at the TCS courier office in Sialkot and recovered 444 grams of heroin concealed inside cricket balls and boxing gloves. The consignment was booked by one Asad Khan, a resident of Peshawar, and was to be sent to an address in Scarborough in the Canadian city of Ontario.

The ANF’s Lahore-Multan team intercepted a passenger Zahid Mehmood, a resident of Sargodha, at Multan International Airport and seized 480 grams of amphetamine (ice) concealed in his bag. The suspect was about to board a Shaheen Airline flight for Jaddah, Saudi Arabia.

The ANF’s Karachi team intercepted a Mazda mini-truck on Hub Road and recovered 400kg Charas concealed in secret cavities of the vehicle.

The truck driver and his assistant, Mohammad Umer and Mohammad Arif, respectively, were taken into custody. The vehicle was going to Karachi from Balochistan.

Cases have been registered at the police stations concerned.

Published in Dawn, June 29th, 2015

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