RAWALPINDI: The Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) has launched three joint operations abroad — with the British National Crime Agency in Kenya and with the authorities in Canada and Germany — helping them arrest 11 people and seize 354kg of heroin.

The ANF said on Friday that it had also seized 24.68kg of heroin, 5,750 psychotropic tablets and 2.3kg of charas during raids in Multan, Kohat, Peshawar and Karachi.

According to the force, it had passed intelligence information to the British agency that a huge quantity of heroin was being smuggled to Kenya from Pakistan by a ship sailing on the Indian Ocean.

The British authorities deployed personnel of a joint task force who intercepted Al Noor vessel at Mombasa port, seizing 900 grams of heroin concealed in a cement bag and arresting nine people.

During investigation it emerged that the crew members had poured heroin into the vessel’s diesel tank and Kenyan police seized another 341.7kg of the drug.

In another operation, the ANF’s intelligence wing informed the Royal Canadian Police of a suspected consignment being transported through a Pakistan International Airline flight.

Canadian police arrested Shamsul Haq Farooq, a dual national, and seized 7kg of heroin from his backpack.

The ANF also informed German police about a suspected drug consignment and they arrested Yasir Mehmood at Munich Airport, seizing 5kg of heroin concealed in his luggage. 

Meanwhile, a Peshawar ANF team seized 24kg of heroin concealed in a car during routine checking at a checkpoint on the Indus Highway in Kohat and arrested Haji Ibrahim of Quetta. A van was impounded near the Peshawar Motorway toll plaza, suspect Abdul Ali of Nowshera arrested and 680g of heroin found in a tissue papers box.

Kamran and Noor Badshah of Kohat were handed over to Riaz Shaheed police station after two SMGs and a 30-bore pistol with 215 rounds were found in their car.

ANF personnel also carried out an operation near Government High School, Suraj Kund Road, Multan, and arrested Muhammad Afzal with 2.2kg of charas.

Karachi ANF seized 5,950 nitrazepam psychotropic tablets weighing 3kg near the port from a Dubai-bound container and arrested Nasir Ali of Kech.

Published in Dawn, August 23rd, 2014