ANF Endeavouring To Make Pakistan Narco-free Country

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 16th Dec, 2018 ) :The Special Counter Narcotics Courts (CNS) of Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) have disposed off 3,374 cases during last more than four years, of which 2750 were convicted, showing an average 92 per cent successful conviction rate.

The 2017 was a record year for prosecution during which ANF had successfully achieved 95 per cent conviction rate while during year 2018, the Force has achieved 96 per cent conviction rate so far. During the period mentioned, 213 acquittal were also made.

The year-wise break-up of cases showed that during year 2014, 426 cases were disposed off, 333 convicted and 34 were acquitted with 91 per cent conviction rate.

During year 2015, the CNS disposed off 603 cases, 421 convicted and 72 were acquitted with 85 per cent conviction rate.

Similarly, during year 2016, the CNS disposed off 474 cases, 405 convicted and 33 were acquitted with 93 per cent conviction rate.

During year 2017, the CNS disposed off 1122 cases, 948 convicted and 45 were acquitted with 95 per cent conviction rate while during year 2018 so far, the CNS disposed off 749 cases, 643 convicted and 29 were acquitted with 96 per cent conviction rate.

Similarly, in continuation of execution of zero tolerance against drugs, ANF Regional Directorate - North conducted 462 operations during year 2017 and 2018, out of which 317 were successfully conducted at twin cities including Islamabad international airport while 145 operations took place in Districts Attock, Jhelum, Chakwal, and Gilgit-Baltistan (GB).

During these operations, ANF seized 1934 kg drugs, arrested 604 persons including eight foreigners along with confiscated 133 vehicles which were being used in drug smuggling.

As per data, efforts are also in hand to conduct a fresh survey on drug use in the country to ascertain total number of persons using narcotics including injecting drugs.

Ministry of Narcotics Control in collaboration with Pakistan Bureau of Statistics and United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) would conduct the survey to get the latest estimated figures of drug addicts.

The last survey of drug addicts was carried out in 2012 and published in 2013 and as per survey report, approximately 6 per cent of population or 6.7 million persons were using any illicit drug including misuse of prescription drugs.

The province-wise details of persons addicted to drugs as per survey included : the number of any illicit drug users in Punjab was 2.9 million while 2,60,000 persons were using injecting drugs.

The number of drug users in Sindh was 1.7 million while 96,000 persons were using injecting drugs.

Similarly, in Balochistan, the number of drug users was 0.28 million and 17,000 persons were using injecting drugs while the number of any illicit drug users in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) was 1.6 million and 47,000 persons using injecting drugs.

Meanwhile, Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) has made significant drug seizures of 1381 ton narcotics and 409 ton precursors during last almost 12 years (2007 to 2018) which shows Force's commitment towards making Pakistan a narco-free country.

Of the total, the ANF seized 33 MT of narcotics in 2007, in 2008 74 MT narcotics and 17 MT precursors chemicals, in 2009 71 MT narcotics and in 2010 the authorities seized 98 MT narcotics and 68 MT precursor chemicals.

An year-wise data regarding seizures issued by Narcotics Control Division has revealed that the year 2011 witnessed seizures of 107 MT narcotics, one MT precursor chemicals and 76 MT narcotics in 2012, 130 MT narcotic and 120 MT precursor chemicals in 2013, in 2014, 158 MT narcotics and 101 MT precursor chemicals, and 205 MT narcotics and 5 MT precursor chemicals in 2015.

The year 2016 saw seizures of 215 MT narcotics and 25 MT precursor chemicals, 164 MT narcotics and 56 MT precursor chemicals seized in 2017 while the number of seizures during first eight months of this year was 50 MT narcotics and 15 MT precursor chemicals.

Besides, significant number of seizures, ANF also registered a number of cases at its Police Stations countrywide and arrested numerous accused involved in these cases.

Moreover, under international coordinated operations, the ANF has been providing assistance to international Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) and on shared information a larger amount of seizures were made during the period.

The ANF provided assistance to 28 countries and major amongst them were United Kingdom (UK), Malaysia, Canada, South Africa, Indonesia, UAE, Iran, Brazil, China, Germany New Zealand, Poland, China etc.

A lot of drug demand reduction and awareness activities including walks, games/sports competitions, speech/debate competitions, lectures, seminar and workshops have been conducted under awareness campaign.

In addition to these, display of banners, steamers, panaflexes at airports, railway stations, bus stations and other important public places, advertisement in electronic and print media, playing of ANF awareness video messages on LEDs installed at airports & railway stations and other prominent places and on local cable tv channels are being organized across the country.

Likewise awareness for general public through bill boards, LEDs, steamers, banners and distribution of awareness material e.g.brochures, pamphlets and leaflets is also being arranged in different parts of country, especially major cities including Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, Quetta and Rawalpindi through Regional Directorates of ANF Pakistan.

Ministry of Religious Affairs has also been approached to direct Khateebs, Ulema and Imams of Masajid, Imam Bargahs and Dargahs in the country to pay special attention towards prohibition and hazards of drug menace in Jumma speeches.

Cooperation of all cellular companies has been sought to forward Drug Awareness Message "Say No To Drug" to all mobile users.

Moreover, to protect our youth, Anti Narcotics Force under insight of Ministry of Narcotics Control, has been working tirelessly in coordination with other law enforcing agencies of Pakistan.

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