ISLAMABAD: Approximately 403.882 Kgs of narcotics were burnt at Islamabad by the Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) during a Drug Burning Ceremony on Tuesday.
Ministry of Narcotics Control Secretary Capt (R) Arif Nawaz Khan graced the occasion as a chief guest. Other prominent participants included foreign dignitaries, officials of Law Enforcement Agencies, high ranking military and civil officials, international partners on drug control, NGOs, civil society, sports organisations, celebrities, media persons and students from different educational institutions.
“During 2018, the ANF burnt a total of 168.148 metric tons of drugs worth $673.115 million,” apprised ANF Director General (DG) Major General Musarrat Nawaz Malik during the ceremony while adding, “ANF is continuously launching anti-drug drives in major cities, with a special focus on educational institutions”.
The ANF DG said that the 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 the goal of a “Drug-Free Society”. He added that ANF is vigorously executing its assigned tasks with the utmost dedication and determination.
While presenting a brief account of the professional performance of ANF, the ANF DG apprised that during 2018, ANF registered 902 cases, arrested 1077 persons involved in drug trafficking and seized 4143.960 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, 92.370 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.
DG Major General Musarrat Nawaz Malik also told the participants that during the year 2018, out of the 898 arrested accused, 830 were given punishments, hence reaching a 95 per cent successful conviction rate. Furthermore, the ANF has also frozen assets worth Rs39.265 million this year.
“ANF has undertaken 331 drug abuse prevention and awareness raising activities throughout the country. In regard to drug treatment facilities, in addition to the already established 3x MATRCs at Islamabad, Quetta and Karachi, ANF has also established a 50x bedded Female & Juvenile Ward (25 beds for women and 25 for children) at the existing MATRC Karachi and a 25 bedded MATRC Sukkur has also started functioning,” he said.
He said that ANF has provided free drug treatment to 914 drug addicts at its Drug Treatment Centers (DTCs) in the year 2018. He also highlighted the up-gradation of ANF Balochistan in respect to deployment, intelligence ability, technical capability and mobility with a special focus on Gawadar in view of the CPEC.