LAHORE, Feb 10: The Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) claimed on Thursday to have arrested three peddlers, including two constables of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) police, from Ravi Toll Plaza and seized from them a huge quantity of narcotics.

The force also seized bundles of smuggled cloth from a bus at the Ravi Toll Plaza during a search on Wednesday.

On the other hand, those arrested expressed their ignorance about the presence of the contraband in the car and their involvement in the transportation of drugs. They claimed they had hired the car only to travel to Lahore.

ANF’s Punjab joint-director Col Chaudhry Iftikhar Ali told reporters at the regional headquarters that on a tip-off that some people were bringing drugs from Peshawar to Lahore on a car, a team set up a picket at Ravi Toll Plaza at around 4am.

As the suspected car (AGP-813 Sindh) arrived, the ANF personnel intercepted it and after a search seized 107kg hashish and 24kg opium concealed in its hidden parts.

He said the suspects identified as head-constable Nasrullah Khan, of Peshawar, constable Sajjad Ahmad, of Batkhela, Malakand, and car driver Pervaiz, of Charsadda, were arrested.

Both the policemen are currently stationed at Peshawar’s Gulberg police station.

Col Iftikhar said the suspects disclosed during preliminary interrogation that they were bringing fourth consignment to Lahore to distribute it to different parties. He said both the policemen used their departmental cards to get clearance from all security check-posts between Peshawar and Lahore.

He, however, said further investigation was under way to collect information about the ringleader, adding the suspects would be produced before a court for remand after registration of a case.

Similarly, he said, another ANF team, during routine checking at the toll plaza spotted only 10 passengers in a bus (LWC-4249), but found imported cloth and bundles concealed in its cavities and under its seats.

The official said as no drug/contraband was recovered from the bus, driver Dad Gull was handed over to the Customs authorities for legal action.

ARRESTED: National Highways and Motorway Police N-5 central claim to have arrested 11 criminals, says a press release.

The NH&MP recovered illegal weapons, stolen animals worth Rs300,000, liquor, motorcycles and timber from their possession.

They have been handed over to the local police for legal action.