Nigerian-led drug ring targeting students busted

RAWALPINDI:

The Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) has dismantled a Nigerian-led drug trafficking network allegedly supplying cocaine and methamphetamine to students in Islamabad and Rawalpindi.

According to a spokesperson, the action was part of an ongoing crackdown on drug networks targeting youth and educational institutions, in line with directives from national and military leadership.

Acting on intelligence, ANF identified a key distributor, Charles Chuka, a Nigerian national accused of supplying narcotics in the twin cities. After surveillance, he was intercepted in Bahria Town, Islamabad, and 10 grams of cocaine were recovered from his possession.

Further investigation led to a raid at the residence of the alleged network head, Joseph Chinedu, also a Nigerian national residing in Bahria Town. During the operation, ANF recovered 26 cocaine capsules weighing 600 grams, 90 cocaine tokens weighing 90 grams, and 160 grams of methamphetamine, bringing the total seizure to 860 grams.

The alleged ringleader was arrested and his vehicle was seized. Efforts are under way to trace and apprehend other members of the network.

The ANF said the case revealed a growing tactic in which traffickers attempt to introduce cocaine capsules into educational institutions to widen distribution and evade detection. It added that enhanced intelligence-based operations and enforcement measures were being maintained to counter such threats.