RAWALPINDI: A total of 266 metric tons of narcotics were seized by the law enforcement agencies of which the Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) Pakistan managed to recover 59 percent.
According to an ANF Headquarters spokesman, the last 12 months from June 2022 to June 2023 have been a very rewarding year for Pakistan as the “Frontline State in the Global War against Illicit Drugs”.
He informed that as the premier anti-narcotics agency, the ANF, along with other law enforcement agencies, continued to be at the forefront of national anti-narcotics efforts. A total of 266 metric tons of narcotics were seized by all law enforcement agencies, of which the ANF accounted for 59 percent of drug seizures, despite problems being faced, he added.
During the last 12 months, ANF registered a total of 1,678 cases and arrested 1,652 accused while 157.551 metric tons of various types of drugs were seized, including 4,379.103 kg of meth, 207.561 kg of amphetamine, 492.094 kg of intoxicated tablets, 32,312.061 liters of various types of prohibited chemicals, he said.
He further informed that additionally, 61,781.257 kg of hashish, 43,197.508 kg of opium, 9,316.695 kg of heroin, 5,459.8 kg of morphine, 11.249 kg of cocaine and 3,374.103 kg of other drugs were also seized during the period.
Other law enforcement agencies registered 70,891 cases and arrested 75,095 accused while seizing 108,566 metric tons of drugs.
Maintaining a strategic orientation resulting from permanent deployments at airports, seaports, dry ports, and border terminals, the ANF continued to conduct regular operations across inter-provincial borders and to control drug trafficking to secure urban centers, he said.
Special attention was also given to international flights, cargo and container traffic. However, it has been noted that chemical drug seizures doubled as compared to 2021 and 2022, the spokesman added.
ANF has also been actively involved in drug demand reduction through awareness programs across the country in the form of lectures, seminars, walks and sports activities, he said adding, ANF rehabilitation centers treated 1,879 drug addicts during the period. Two more rehabilitation centers, Malir and Mangopeer, were established and made operational in Karachi, he said.
ANF also conducted eight maritime operations in 2023 in collaboration with international counterparts, he said and informed that a total of 18.33 tons of drugs including 13.275 metric tons of charras, 3.3 metric tons of heroin and 1.6982 metric tons of methamphetamine (ice) were seized.
These operations were carried out on the high seas based on intelligence provided by the ANF to maritime international law enforcement agencies, he added.