RAWALPINDI: The Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) set 320.50 tons of narcotics, including heroin and hashish, on fire to mark the international day against drug abuse and trafficking. The event was held at DHA Valley Islamabad on Thursday.

Minister of State for Interior and Narcotics Control Mian Balighur Rehman was the chief guest, and was welcomed by ANF director general Major-Gen Khawar Hanif and other participants.

International partners, foreign dignitaries, law enforcement officials, civil society members, students, national heroes and educational institutions attended the ceremony.

Addressing participants, DG Hanif said that in the 2014-2015 year, the ANF registered 1,337 cases, apprehended 1,642 individuals including 71 foreign nationals, busted 42 drug trafficking organisations (DTO) – 30 domestic, 12 international – and seized 345.54 tons of narcotics approximately valued at more than Rs5 trillion in the international market.

He said that ANF action was not limited to seizures, but that the force also brings people to justice. He said that the ANF’s successful prosecution rate in 2014-2015 was 89 per cent, which includes five death penalties, 65 life imprisonments and 556 other punishments.

Published in Dawn, October 16th, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play