Charsadda residents demand crackdown on selling of 'crystal meth' drug

Rights group says the drug has had a detrimental effect on the society

SHABQADAR: The residents of Charsadda, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa took to streets on Wednesday, calling for a crackdown on those selling a highly addictive drug crystal meth in the district.

Crystal meth, or crystal methamphetamine, is a highly addictive and strong drug that affects the central nervous system.

Pasban, a social rights awareness group, staged a demonstration in Shabqadar, where participants chanted slogans, urging police take action against drug dealers.

A member of the group called upon the authorities to take swift action against the criminals as the drug has had a detrimental effect on the society.



Police say that they have arrested 72 drug dealers in a two-week operation in Charsadda, Tangi and Shabqadar.

According to a Charsadda police officer, 40 drug peddlers have been released after promising they will not indulge in the selling again. He added that 37 kilogrammes of hashish, 6kg of heroin and 77 grams of crystal meth were recovered from their possession.

The official further said that surveillance of the Mohmand and Malakand border posts had been tightened with strict checking on the entry and exit points of the district.

Shabqadar remains a hub for different kinds of drugs as it borders the Mohmand tribal district. Authorities say the drugs are smuggled from Afghanistan, and later smuggled to Saudi Arabia or to Europe.