Crackdown launched as drug dealers go high tech

Drug dealers booking tokens via WhatsApp, using Google location services

PESHAWAR:

In a recent surge of alarming developments, drug dealers in Peshawar have turned to technology to facilitate their illicit trade, causing widespread concern in academic institutions and neighbourhoods alike.

SSP Kashif Aftab Abbasi, under the directive of the Inspector General of Police, has launched a major operation against these drug dealers, shedding light on the gravity of the situation.

According to SSP Abbasi, the new modus operandi involves drug dealers booking tokens via WhatsApp and using Google location services to pinpoint drug drop-off spots within various academic institutes, including universities and colleges. This method has allowed them to discreetly supply drugs like STC tablets and ice within the city.

Also read Province-wide crackdown on drug dealers ordered

During the ongoing operation, authorities have already identified 201 major drug sellers in Peshawar, leading to the apprehension of 460 drug dealers within the last three days. More than four hundred First Information Reports (FIRs) have been registered against them. Additionally, local factories operating within residential premises have been targeted, where illicit drugs are being manufactured.

Local residents, like Naheem Khan, have voiced their distress over the impact of ice addicts on their daily lives. Incidents of armed confrontations, often resulting from drug-induced behavior, have made public spaces unsafe.

Investigation sources within the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) police reveal a concerning trend where some drug dealers secure bail within a week or two of their arrest due to weak FIRs and a lack of concrete evidence.

In response to these challenges, the Peshawar High Court has issued a notification mandating the creation of video documentation during raids related to drug cases. This measure aims to enhance the evidentiary process and strengthen legal proceedings.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 7^th, 2023.