Gujranwala couple arrested for online drug trafficking

Police claimed to have arrested a couple involved in selling drugs online and seized 105 kilogrammes of narcotics.

The operation was led by SSP Operations Dr Raza Tanveer, SSP Investigation Rizwan Tariq, and SP Civil Lines Farhat Abbas, who disclosed details during a press conference.

The Arup police intercepted a major drug shipment that was being sold through various online platforms and social media.

The couple, identified as Yusuf and Faheema Bibi, had been running this illegal operation by using secret codes to receive orders from small dealers across the region. Their operation included the sale of methamphetamine ("ice"), hashish, heroin, and opium.

Upon receiving a tip-off, the police tracked the couple as they were transporting a large consignment of drugs in a vehicle with hidden compartments.

A raid led to the recovery of 105 kilogrammes of drugs, including 5.7 kilogrammes of meth, over 23 kilogrammes of hashish, 28 kilogrammes of heroin, and 47.5 kilogrammes of opium.

The total street value of the seized drugs is estimated to be over Rs70 million.

SSP Operations Dr Tanveer and SSP Investigation Tariq revealed that the couple had been involved in drug trafficking since 2012.

Despite previous arrests in 2018 and again in 2021, they resumed their illegal activities after being released from jail. Their extensive network supplied drugs to various dealers, and they primarily targeted schools and colleges, endangering the lives of young students.

The officers explained that the couple sourced the drugs from tribal areas and distributed them to local dealers using unsuspecting motorcycle riders who were often unaware of the nature of the goods they were delivering.

The authorities have now launched a thorough investigation into the couple's phone records to identify and apprehend their contacts and collaborators.

The police emphasised that they have been actively cracking down on drug dealers for the past month, with numerous arrests and significant quantities of drugs already seized.

Rehabilitation programmes have also been initiated for drug addicts in the region.

However, they stressed that the community must also play its part by reporting any suspicious activity to the authorities.