By U. Zee
ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad Police have arrested at least 123 drug dealers from the capital territory in a special crackdown and seized thousands of grams of heroin, hashish and ice from them.
SSP (Operations) Dr. Syed Mustafa Tanveer said this on Friday while addressing a press conference here at the Central Police Office in Islamabad. He said the crackdown against the drug peddlers has been launched as per vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan and directions of the IGP Qazi Jameel-ur-Rehman.
He said that 123 drug dealers were arrested in last couple of weeks during the crackdown and the police have seized 27123 grams heroin, 50965 gram hashish and 2788 gram ice from the culprits. He said the police have arrested 19 Nigerians this year for their involvement in the drugs business in the federal capital.
Tarnol Police have arrested a notorious drug peddler Basharat who was involved in at least 13 cases of drugs, murder, terrorism while the police have also arrested a drug dealer identified as Irfan Ali from Khana who is already nominated in three cases of drugs selling.
The IGP Islamabad said in his message that a specialized anti-narcotics unit has been established to get rid of the drugs in the federal capital. He said that an awareness campaign against the menace was also on the cards in colleges and universities to protect future of the youth. The IGP also appealed the citizens to cooperate with the police to get rid of the menace.
The SSP (Operations) in his press conference said the drugs were destroying future of the youth and the Islamabad Police were working to put an end to both supply and demand of the drugs in Islamabad. He said the taxi drivers, ladies and some foreigners were arrested for their involvement in the business.
Elaborating the modus operandi of the criminals, he said the customers contact the drug dealers through telephone and then the material was delivered to them on the given place, adding that majority of the customers were found to be youth.
The SSP (Operations) said the police were trying its best to smash the network of the drug dealers and the operation against them would continue unabated.
He appealed the parents to keep an eye on their children to protect them from the menace and share the information immediately with the police regarding the drug peddlers. The police would not disclose the names of the informants, he said, adding that the media should also play its part in curbing the crime.
