Cops in police custody for drug smuggling

Heroin, drone camera, weighing machines, cash seized

LAHORE:

Barki police have busted a gang comprising cops and two brothers of an SHO suspected of being involved in drug smuggling.

The operation led to the seizure of heroin worth millions of rupees and other contraband items.

According to police sources, a tip-off prompted a raid that resulted in the arrest of Constables Tariq and Usman, along with an accomplice. Over 6.5 kilogrammes of heroin valued at more than Rs20 million was seized.

Additionally, a drone camera, cash, weighing machines and other equipment used for drug trafficking were seized.

The investigation revealed that another accomplice, Shoaib, who is also a Constable, remains at large.

The sources said the arrested suspects included personnel from the Dolphin Force and Cantt Circle of the police, of whom one is brother of the station house officer (SHO) of Garhi Shahu.

They reportedly exploited their official positions and resources to smuggle drugs.

During interrogation, the suspects confessed to sourcing drugs online from Peshawar and smuggling them across districts.

They admitted to previously having trafficked over 10kg of heroin from Afghanistan and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and smuggling 3kg of it to a neighbouring country.

The Cantt SP confirmed that Constable Tariq was posted in the North Cantonment area, while Usman had been dismissed from the Dolphin Force a few months ago.

The gang used sophisticated methods, including hawala and hundi channels, to receive payments, the source said.

Efforts were under way to apprehend the remaining accomplices of the suspects.

There had also been earlier arrests pointing to involvement of police personnel in drug smuggling using drones.

Drug trafficking through drones has emerged as a thriving business in recent years, with several officials allegedly involved.

In 2023, DSP Mazhar Iqbal, in charge of the Anti-Narcotics Unit of Organised Crime Unit, had been booked by the Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) on charges of cross-border smuggling. He evaded arrest until recently, when he was taken into custody after his bail application was dismissed.