By Uzma Zafar
ISLAMABAD: Authorities have seized significant quantities of drugs from passengers travelling to Saudi Arabia and Dubai as part of ongoing anti-smuggling operations, according to a spokesperson from the Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF).
The operations, conducted nationwide, resulted in the arrest of nine individuals and the recovery of over 43 kilograms of drugs across nine separate incidents.
At Karachi Airport on Monday, two separate operations led to the confiscation of 3.1 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine (commonly known as “ice”) and 1,208 narcotic pills from two passengers bound for Saudi Arabia and Dubai.
In Multan, officials seized 25 kilograms of hashish from a suspect, while operations near Peshawar’s Ring Road yielded six kilograms of hashish and 900 grams of opium from two suspects.
In Hyderabad, three kilograms of hashish were recovered from a suspect on Bhan Road, while near a university in Peshawar, authorities seized 3.6 kilograms of hashish and 300 narcotic pills from another individual.
Additionally, 920 grams of crystal methamphetamine were found near the Islamabad M2 Toll Plaza, and in Gilgit, officials recovered 520 grams of hashish from a suspect.
The ANF has filed charges against the suspects under the Anti-Narcotics Act and has initiated further investigations into the cases.
In a separate operation, the Airport Security Force (ASF) at Multan Airport intercepted a passenger on a flight to Jeddah and seized 804 grams of liquid crystal methamphetamine concealed in shampoo bottles.
The passenger, identified as Abdul Majeed, had skillfully hidden the drugs, but ASF personnel became suspicious during a search and uncovered the contraband, thwarting the smuggling attempt.
The suspect and the seized drugs were handed over to ANF officials for further legal action following initial investigations.
