New drug trafficking method using Google Maps uncovered in Khyber

Drug dealers in the Khyber district have adopted advanced technology, using Google Maps to conduct their operations more discreetly.

This modern method of drug trafficking, which has emerged at both domestic and international levels, involves using GPS coordinates and messaging apps to facilitate the distribution process.

The strategy, known locally as the "Location Network," enables major dealers to deliver drugs across the country from the Khyber district.

Instead of traditional hand-to-hand transactions, smugglers place drugs at predetermined locations in various cities and villages, take pictures of these sites, and send the images and coordinates to main dealers in Khyber via WhatsApp.

The dealers then forward this information to buyers, allowing them to retrieve the drugs without direct contact. Payments are made electronically through bank transfers.

Owal Gul, a Khyber resident involved in the Location Network, confirmed that he received instructions from major dealers to distribute drugs in Sialkot, Punjab.

He described the operation as straightforward, noting that each major dealer has an organized network that functions both nationally and internationally. This method is used daily and is considered relatively secure because it minimizes physical interactions.

The operation, which extends to Gulf States and Western countries, is reportedly centered in the United Arab Emirates. Payments for drugs are sent to Khyber's major dealers through temporary or anonymous bank accounts.

Khyber District Police Officer Saleem Abbas stated that the WhatsApp accounts used by the network are often registered under false names, and payments from abroad are channeled through various accounts to avoid detection.

The Gulf States' stringent anti-drug laws have contributed to the adoption of this method, which reduces the need for physical couriers and relies on technology for coordination.

Despite the sophistication of the operation, police have been working to dismantle the network. According to DPO Abbas, capturing the network poses challenges due to its discreet nature. However, authorities monitor individuals who suddenly gain unexplained wealth and investigate their mobile devices for evidence of involvement.

This approach has led to successful interventions and arrests.

Police DSP Sawal Zar Khan, SHO Adnan Afridi, SHO Muhammad Haroon, and ASI Muhammad Baz have been at the forefront of operations against the Location Network in Khyber.

They reported dismantling a significant portion of the network over the past six months, registering 65 cases and arresting 120 individuals linked to the operation.

As a result, some major dealers have reportedly moved their activities to other regions, such as Peshawar.

From June 2023 to June 2024, police seized significant quantities of drugs, including 7,041 kilograms of cannabis, 402 kilograms of opium, 437 kilograms of methamphetamine, and 605 kilograms of other substances.

The successful operations in Khyber have also led to a decrease in drug trafficking activities in the Gulf region.

Acknowledging the efforts of local law enforcement, the United Arab Emirates' Minister of Interior awarded DPO Khyber Saleem Abbas Kalachi a certificate of appreciation and an honorary shield. This recognition was facilitated by IGP Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Akhtar Hayat Khan and reflects the cross-border implications of the anti-drug efforts in Khyber.