Anti Narcotics Force Destroys 403.882 Kg Confiscated Drugs

Anti Narcotics Force Tuesday organized a central drug burning ceremony and destroyed 403.882 kg confiscated narcotics.

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 23rd Oct, 2018 ) :Anti Narcotics Force Tuesday organized a central drug burning ceremony and destroyed 403.882 kg confiscated narcotics.

Pakistan is facing both internal and external threats, and under such circumstances, drug crime is badly affecting our society.

Hence, it is mandatory to tackle this menace with iron hands, Secretary Narcotics Control Division, Capt (R) Arif Nawaz Khan said this while addressing the ceremony.

ANF Director General Major General Musarrat Nawaz Malik, foreign dignitaries, officials of Law Enforcement Agencies, high ranking military and civil officials, international partners on drug control, NGOs, civil society, sports organizations, celebrities, mediapersons and students from different educational institutions were present on the occasion.

Arif Nawaz said ANF was rendering extraordinary endeavors to counter drug trafficking at national and international level and lauded ANF's achievements and its role as a specialized force in combating trafficking of illicit drugs at national, regional and global level.

The Secretary assured his all-out support to ANF for addressing inadequacies of the force to tackle the menace more vigorously.

In his welcome address, Major General Musarrat Nawaz said menace of drugs is one of the most damaging and life crippling threat for society and ANF is striving for its absolute elimination to achieve goal of "Drug Free Society." He apprised that 403.882 kg of narcotics are being burnt at Islamabad, however, this year ANF burnt a total of 168.148 Metric Tons of drugs worth US $ 673.115 millions including recent drug burning ceremonies at Peshawar and Quetta.

The DG said ANF is continuously launching "Anti-Drug Drives" in major cities with special focus on educational institutions.

Presenting a brief account of professional performance of ANF, he said during 2018, ANF registered 902 cases, arrested 1077 persons involved in drug trafficking while seized 4143.

96 kg Opium, 1572 kg Morphine, 3481.242 kg Heroin, 45120.438 kg Hashish, 2.492 kg Cocaine, 1621.349 kg Amphetamine, 45.673 kg Methamphetamine, 1.543 kg Ecstasy Tablets, 92.37 kg Xanax Tablets, 71.400 kg Pranax Tablets, 57.027 kg Cannabis, 8 Kg Poppy Straw and Precursor Chemical comprising 4283 Liter Acetic Anhydride, 3700 Liter Sulfuric Acid, 450 Liter Hydrochloric Acid, 6977 Liter Acetone, 114 Liter Ketamine and 65 Kg Crystals.

Major General Musarrat Nawaz said during year 2018, out of 898 arrested accused, 830 were given punishments, hence making 95 per cent successful conviction rate.

Further, this year ANF has frozen assets worth Rs. 39.265 million.

He said in year 2018, ANF has undertaken 331 drug abuse prevention and awareness raising activities throughout the country.

Talking about drug treatment facilities, he apprised that in addition to already established three MATRCs at Islamabad, Quetta & Karachi, ANF has established a 50 bedded Female & Juvenile Ward (25 beds for Women & 25 for Children) at existing MATRC Karachi and a 25 bedded MATRC Sukkur has also started functioning.

He said ANF has provided free drug treatment to 914 drug addicts at its Drug Treatment Centers in year 2018.

He also highlighted the up-gradation of ANF Balochistan in respect of deployment, intelligence ability, technical capability and mobility with special focus on Gwadar in view of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

The DG said Pakistan is a poppy free country since 2001 but region produces over 90 per cent of world's opiates which puts Pakistan in double jeopardy of being a victim as well as a transit country.

The recent inauguration of China-Pakistan Joint Border Liaison Office (BLO) at Sost Border is a great achievement which will help both the countries in countering border smuggling and sharing of experiences.

Later, he thanked all with determination of making thecountry, region, continent and world completely free fromdrugs.