Observing the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, a joint ceremony was held at Hawkesbay on Sunday for destroying narcotics, including drugs and alcohol. The event was arranged by the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA) under the auspices of the Interagency Task Force on Counter Narcotics.
Chief Collector of the Customs Razia Sultana was the chief guest at the ceremony, whereas PMSA Director General Brig Sheheryar Khan and Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF)’s Brig Wajid were also present. According to a PMSA statement, the Interagency Task Force on Counter Narcotics consists of 12 federal and provincial agencies that put up a unified front against the menace of narcotics in the country.
This year, a total of 14,603kg of hashish; 30kg of heroin; 3,214kg of gutka; 61,897 bottles of liquor; and 24,292 cans of beer were destroyed. They had an estimated value of Rs 280 million. The PMSA statement said that cases of narcotics of an approximately equal quantity are pending in various courts and awaiting disposal.
The chief guest distributed commendation certificates among the officers and operatives of various agencies who had made significant confiscations over the years. To raise awareness among the general public, a cycle race was also held under the auspices of the Sindh Cycling Association. Cash prizes and certificates were also distributed among the participants of the race.
