Three officials caught supplying drugs

Earlier cases also reveal police involvement in drug trafficking networks

FAISALABAD:

Three personnel of the very police unit tasked with curbing drug trafficking were caught red-handed while allegedly transporting narcotics for sale.

Police sources said the arrested officers, identified as Sufyan Ahmed, Nabeel Ahmed and Dawood, were members of the Anti-Narcotics Squad under the Faisalabad Police.

Acting on a tip-off, Inspector Mansoor Sadiq, in charge of the Anti-Narcotics Unit, placed the suspects under surveillance after receiving credible information that they were supplying drugs in collaboration with local traffickers.

On Thursday, the three personnel were intercepted near Bohar Chowk, within the jurisdiction of Batala Colony Police Station, while riding a motorcycle (registration number ACZ-7829) to deliver around five kilograms of opium.

During the raid, the raiding team recovered five kilograms of opium, Rs155,000 in cash, and two pistols from their possession.

Following the arrest, City Police Officer (CPO) Faisalabad, Sahibzada Bilal Umar, and SSP Investigation, Nasir Mahmood Bajwa, ordered the immediate suspension of the three officers and directed that a criminal case be registered against them.

The Batala Colony Police have since registered an FIR under sections relating to narcotics trafficking and illegal possession of arms, and placed the accused in custody for interrogation.

Sources revealed that this is not the first instance of police involvement in drug trafficking. Earlier this year, a raid by the Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) in Samanabad Police Station had uncovered a large narcotics cache, allegedly linked to a former Station House Officer (SHO) Imtiaz Jappa and other officials.

CPO Bilal Umar condemned the incident, vowing strict accountability within the police department.

"There is no room for black sheep in the police force. The officers have been suspended, and a regular departmental inquiry has been ordered. Action will be taken based on the inquiry findings," he stated.