ANF Drug Network Busted in Twin Cities
The Anti-Narcotics Force has busted an international drug network operating in Islamabad and Rawalpindi, arresting 20 Nigerian nationals and recovering 4.43kg of narcotics. The ANF says the network targeted young people, including students at educational institutions in the twin cities.
The ANF carried out a coordinated intelligence-based operation at various locations across Islamabad and Rawalpindi, acting on credible intelligence. The force described the action as a major breakthrough in its nationwide campaign against drug trafficking.
The recovered drugs comprised 1.682kg of cocaine, 2kg of methamphetamine, known as Ice, and 750 grams of weed, an ANF spokesperson said in a press release.
ANF drug network targeted students
According to intelligence reports, the arrested suspects belonged to an organised network involved in the smuggling, distribution and sale of cocaine, Ice and weed among youth, particularly students of educational institutions in Islamabad and Rawalpindi.
The focus on students is what makes the case troubling for parents and teachers. Dealers who operate near schools, colleges and universities can reach young people at an age when they are most at risk, and the ANF said protecting the younger generation was a central aim of the operation.
Preliminary investigations revealed that two of the arrested Nigerian nationals were already on bail in a previous narcotics-related case. The ANF had been closely monitoring the network through sustained intelligence gathering and surveillance before moving in.
How the operation unfolded
The ANF said the operation followed actionable intelligence and a well-coordinated strategy. Teams raided several locations across the twin cities at the same time, arresting the suspects and seizing the drugs.
The force said the operations showed its professional capability and commitment to dismantling organised drug trafficking networks involved in the illicit transportation and distribution of narcotics.
The ANF has now expanded the scope of its investigations to identify possible facilitators, sources of narcotics supply, financial supporters, local contacts and possible links with other drug trafficking organisations. The arrests may be only the first step, if the network’s local helpers and money trail lead further.
Law enforcement steps up in the twin cities
The crackdown comes as law enforcement agencies tighten their grip on crime in the capital region. The Safe City project in Islamabad carries a two-year jail term for damaging its equipment, and police in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have been fighting organised crime as well, after ten policemen were killed in an ambush in Kohat.
Federal agencies have also been active against fraud networks. The FIA and the Malir Development Authority uncovered fake bank challans in Karachi, in another case that showed how organised groups operate across cities.
Cases that reach the courts can take time, and victims often say the system moves slowly. In one recent case, victims said their complaints were ignored in the Laiba Ijaz case. The ANF says it will pursue this network’s facilitators and financial backers, and the courts will now decide the fate of the 20 arrested men.
What parents and students should know
The ANF said it places special emphasis on public awareness alongside enforcement. It appealed to parents, teachers, educational institutions and all segments of society to educate young people about the harmful effects of narcotics.
Anyone who notices suspicious drug trafficking activity in their area can report it to the ANF helpline on 1415. The force said reports from the public help it track networks that operate quietly around schools and neighbourhoods.
What happens next
The 20 arrested men will face narcotics charges, and the ANF’s wider investigation will look for the network’s local contacts, supply sources and financial supporters. The force says it will continue vigorous and indiscriminate intelligence-based operations against drug traffickers, their facilitators and organised trafficking networks.
Frequently asked questions
How many people were arrested in the ANF operation?
Twenty Nigerian nationals were arrested during coordinated raids in Islamabad and Rawalpindi. The ANF says they belonged to an organised drug trafficking network.
How much drugs did the ANF recover?
The ANF recovered 4.43kg of narcotics: 1.682kg of cocaine, 2kg of methamphetamine (Ice) and 750 grams of weed.
Who was the network targeting?
The network allegedly sold drugs among youth, particularly students of educational institutions in Islamabad and Rawalpindi, according to the ANF.
Were any of the arrested men already facing cases?
Yes. Preliminary investigations found that two of the arrested Nigerian nationals were already on bail in a previous narcotics-related case.
How can the public report drug trafficking?
The ANF has asked the public to report suspicious drug trafficking activity to its helpline on 1415. It has appealed to parents, teachers and educational institutions to warn young people about the harmful effects of narcotics.
