ANF busts Peshawar drug factory for narcotics manufacturing

ANF’s ongoing crackdown on drug smuggling in educational institutions nets significant haul in Peshawar.

The Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) has sealed a factory producing pharmaceutical drugs as well as illegal narcotic tablets in Peshawar’s densely populated area of Danishabad.

Acting on a tip-off, ANF officials raided the facility, seizing equipment and substances used in the manufacturing of drugs.

According to an ANF spokesperson, a thorough search of the premises led to the confiscation of various machines, including a tablet-punching device, along with tools such as punches, dryers, mixers, and scales.

During the raid, two suspects were apprehended while caught red-handed manufacturing narcotic tablets.

Authorities recovered 1,425 tablets, 2.5 kilograms of powder used for drug production, 120 grams of methamphetamine (ice), and other chemicals.

The suspects were reportedly supplying drugs to students in hostels and educational institutions.

ANF has confirmed that its crackdown on drug smuggling in schools and universities will continue.

The suspects are now facing charges under the Anti-Narcotics Act, and further investigations are underway.

In a similar case, the Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) dismantled a major network involved in drug trafficking in Southern Punjab, which was supplying drugs to students through social media and e-commerce platforms.

The network was operated by two brothers heavily engaged in the large-scale sale of party drugs to students, Express News reported.

The ANF team apprehended them based on intelligence reports, seizing 1,500 ecstasy pills, 1.5 kilograms of methamphetamine (ice), and 2 kilograms of cannabis.

According to ANF officials, the suspects also organised drug-fuelled rave parties in various homes and hotels in Multan. They specifically targeted students residing in hostels for drug sales.

This crackdown is part of the ANF's ongoing campaign against groups involved in drug smuggling that are engaged in the illegal sale of drugs in educational institutions.

Its aim is to expose students involved in drug smuggling and such organised groups to bring them to justice.

This month ANF launched a nationwide initiative targeting drug abuse in educational institutions.

The chairman of the Higher Education Commission (HEC), along with educators and students in the federal capital, also recognised the escalating issue of narcotics consumption in the country's colleges and universities.

A 2022 ANF study revealed that approximately 53 percent of students in Pakistani universities and colleges had encountered drugs, with about 27 percent admitting to having used them. HEC Chairman Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed acknowledged that drug use is increasingly becoming a widespread issue on campuses.

Earlier the Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) conducted 11 operations across the country, recovering 437 kg of drugs valued at Rs 80 million and arresting nine suspects, according to an ANF Headquarters spokesman on Monday.

In Kalabat, Town Bypass, Haripur, 3.6 kg of hashish was seized from one of the apprehended individuals.

The arrested suspects admitted to supplying drugs to students at the educational institutions.

A few months ago, a high-level meeting held at the Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) Headquarters discussed the spread of drugs and anti-drug measures particularly in educational institutions and stressed the need for a collective campaign in educational institutions.

The Secretary of the Ministry of Narcotics Control presided over the meeting. Senior officials of the ANF Headquarters, Ministry of Narcotics Control and others attended the meeting.

Top officials of the Higher Education Commission, the Ministry of Education and several educational institutions were also present in the meeting. Vice Chancellor of Dow University of Health Sciences Karachi also participated in the meeting.

The implementation of the approved HEC policy 2021 on drug and tobacco use was also taken into consideration.

The ANF DG gave assurance of all possible support and assistance to the educational institutions for the successful conduct of the campaign.

The Secretary Ministry of Narcotics Control stressed the need for collective efforts to achieve the target.

According to an ANF spokesman, the purpose of the meeting was to review the spread of drugs in educational institutions and the measures taken by the administration to deal with this problem.

A comprehensive briefing was also given to the participants by the ANF and the HEC on the agenda.