KARACHI: Police on Friday claimed to have arrested two suspects linked to an Afghanistan-based narcotics network and recovered over 19 kilogrammes of methamphetamine, also known as crystal meth or ice.

Speaking at a press conference, DIG-East Dr Farrukh Ali said the Landhi police, acting on a tip-off, arrested two members of the network, identified as Hira Naz Pervez and Zeeshan Ghaffar, and recovered over 19kg of ‘ice’ from them.

He said the suspects belonged to an Afghanistan-linked network of drug dealers who supplied narcotics in Karachi and other parts of the country. The suspects were in contact with a notorious Afghan drug dealer, Sabir Afghan.

The DIG further said that it was an organised network that supplied drugs through different routes to Lahore and other parts of Punjab, from where they were distributed to other parts of the country, including Karachi.

According to the officer, the “international drug network” is a “family-based cartel” whose linchpin is a woman named Mehwish, who lives in Lahore and the held suspect Hira is Mehwish’s sister-in-law. Her husband, Pervez, supplied meth, while Hira distributed it to customers, said the DIG.

Korangi SSP Fida Husain Janwari said on the occasion that the gang did not use mobile phones, although Hira had five SIMs.

The SSP said that, despite having millions of rupees, the suspects had opened three vulcanising shops in Landhi to disguise their activities.

Further investigation was underway to obtain information from the arrested suspects about their network and accomplices, officials said.

Published in Dawn, September 19th, 2026