RAWALPINDI: The Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) has imposed a ban on carrying niswar during air travel. The act has been designated as a punishable offence.

The official notification mentioned that all Arab countries had included niswar — tobacco with a dash of ash and lime — in the list of narcotics and that strict action would be taken against passengers carrying niswar in their luggage.

The ANF has displayed banners inscribed with the pledge to ‘clean society from drugs’, warning that in Arab countries the offence of carrying narcotics is punishable with death.

A Civil Aviation Authority spokesman told Dawn that the CAA had been facilitating the ANF at all airports across the country for implementation of the ban on carrying niswar.

The ANF, being a prime drug law enforcement agency, has increased vigilance on passengers travelling abroad at the airports and launched a 24-hour public complaint number 114 for registration of complaints and facilitation of the general public.

An ANF press release said it had been receiving a large number of complaints on a daily basis.

Last week, the ANF personnel had foiled an attempt to smuggle 2.9kg of ice heroin to Saudi Arabia and arrested a passenger at Islamabad International Airport.

The seizure was made when the check-in of passengers for a Gulf Air flight GF-0771 for Muscat was in progress. During baggage search of a passenger, who was a resident of Nowshera, the ANF staff recovered 2.9kg of ice heroin concealed in a suitcase.

Published in Dawn, July 2nd, 2019