RAWALPINDI, Jan 13: The Anti Narcotics Force (ANF) arrested what it said a gang of smugglers who were trying to smuggle heroin out of the country. According to a statement issued here on Friday, the arrests were made by the officials of ANF regional directorate Rawalpindi.

In two separate raids, the ANF personnel recovered 5kg and 2.38kg white heroin from the persons who were trying to smuggle the contraband abroad.

The statement said Force Commander Brig Tahir Saleem received information that a gang of smugglers operating at international level would attempt to smuggle a huge quantity of narcotics to Europe.

A raiding party was arranged which apprehended the accused — Liaquat Ali, Mohammad Afzal and Imran — from Mohanpura Rawalpindi. Their car was also impounded. They were arrested while handing over a shopping bag containing 5kg heroin to two Nigerians identified as Ikenna Francis Onwutallobi and Paul Nuse Okeke.

In another operation, the ANF staff intercepted a passenger Obiokoye Benjamin Ekene, national of Lagos (Nigeria), at Islamabad airport and recovered 2.38kg heroin from his possession.

The contraband had been concealed in carton cavities, laboratory equipment (glass beakers, flask and stethoscope).