Efforts On To Control Smuggling, Spread Of Narcotics

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 20th Oct, 2016 ) : Around 2,915 drugs related cases have been registered and 3,543 persons apprehended in countrywide campaign against the menace almost during last three years.

Of the total, 888 cases were registered during year 2014, 1217 cases during 2015 and year 2016 has witnessed registration of 810 cases till August 16. Similarly, arrests were also made in drugs related cases during the period and their number was 1108 in 2014, 1460 in 2015 and 975 arrests during 2016 so far.

A data issued by Interior Division on Thursday revealed that Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF), during its national campaign against the menace of narcotics, has seized 39,120 kg opium during 2014, 50,184 kg during 2015 and 23,383 kg during this year.

The size of Morphine seized during the period included 812 kg in 2014, 543 kg in 2015 and 2794 kg during this year while quantity of Heroine seizure was 5,542 kg in 2014, 12,266 kg in 2015 and 7,965 kg during this year.

Moreover, the data said the ANF also seized Hashish and its quantity was 1,06,202 kg in 2014, 1,33,645 kg in 2015 and 81,946 kg during this year while Cocaine was also seized and its quantity was 6.59 kg in 2014, 35.73 kg in 2015 and 4.045 kg during this year so far.

With regards to steps being taken by Anti-Narcotics Force to control smuggling of narcotics in the country, the data said that number of ANF police stations have been increased from 25 to 29 while deployment of ANF personnel have been made at all international airports, seaports and dry ports to counter narcotics trafficking through passengers and goods.

The ANF launched campaign/crackdown against drug peddlers, destroyed poppy crops in coordination with provincial governments and FATA Administration.

The other steps were establishment of Canine Units (sniffer dogs) at each Regional Directorate (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, North, Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan), capacity building of ANF officials and other Law Enforcement Agencies (PEAs) through training and provision of equipment for counter narcotics activities.

The other steps included conduct of precursors training for all users to have effective precursor control/checking, induction of intelligence software (i2) for assistance in investigation/backtracking, random/surprise checking by ANF Special Squads at all Railway Stations, Scope of Port Control Unit (PCU) at Karachi has been expanded while checking of imports at seaports has also commenced despite paucity of resources.

Use of CCTV cameras has been introduced for effective profiling of passengers at all airports. Regional Directorates of ANF have also been directed to take stringent measures to monitor trafficking and use of synthetic drugs.

With regard to diversion of precursors for manufacturing of narcotics drugs, an elaborate SOP has been formulated and being implemented in letter and spirit while Pre-Export Notification (PEN) online system is in practice to have check on misuse/diversion of precursors.

When contacted official sources said ANF was striving hard to control drugs trafficking. Unprecedented and record seizures are indication of ANF's resolve to combat menace of drugs. Its achievements in seizures of narcotics are appreciated by world community.

The government has also designed a comprehensive policy to control smuggling and spread of narcotics in the country. The number of ANF police stations have been increased from 25 to 28 by activating three additional police stations in the country.