44 held, 12,336 kg of drugs seized in 2011

QUETTA: Anti Narcotics Force Balochistan has seized nearly 12,336.775 kg of narcotics in year 2011 and arrested 44 accused in this connection, said Colonel retired Amjad, the Joint Director ANF Balochistan.

Briefing media person here at regional office Thursday, he said that ANF was striving hard to curb the drugs smuggling as the quantity of narcotics busted prevailing year was much higher than the last year.

He revealed that the drugs peddlers in Afghanistan illegally smuggle 30 percent of drugs via Balochistan to rest of the world.

Giving the details of drugs seized during the 2011, the Joint Director ANF said that the busted amount during the different raids carried out in parts of the province included 43.615 kg of heroin, 5,577.825 kg of hashish, 881 kg of morphine, 5,834 kg of opium and 335 kg of cocaine.

"As many as 44 accused have been nabbed, besides 26 vehicles used for the smuggling purposes were also apprehended, he added.

He noted that during the anti-poppy cultivation drive, ANF devised concerted strategy during which ANF along with government of Balochistan and law enforcement agencies, destroyed about 2496.2 acre of poppy crop in Qilla Abdullah and Loralai districts.

On the cases registered by the ANF, About 38 accused had been tried and sentenced in courts during year 2011, he maintained.

Joint Director attributed the surge in the quantity of drugs busted in prevailing year to tightened security that led to the detection of more smuggled narcotics.