Drugs worth Rs4b seized in Khyber in over one year: official

LANDIKOTAL: District Police Officer Khyber, Salim Abbas Kulachi, said on Wednesday that the police had recovered narcotics worth approximately Rs4 billion in raids and routine checkings at various checkposts in the Khyber district over the last one year.

The DPO said the Khyber police conducted numerous intelligence-based raids in various areas, resulting in the seizure of a substantial quantity of drugs while 35 drug factories were also dismantled.

“From January 2023 to March 10, 2024, the police have recovered narcotics worth approximately Rs4 billion in raids and routine checks at police checkpoints, including Torkham, Michini, and Takhtabaig,” he said. He said around 500 drug smugglers were also arrested.

The official said during the period, a total of 435kg heroin, 245kg ice (methamphetamine), 315kg opium, and 4000kg hashish have been seized, with 500 drug traffickers arrested. Several traffickers were later sentenced by the courts.

Kulachi said several drug dens were closed down in the Wazirdhand locality and other areas. He said that while drug dealing and manufacturing were once not banned in Khyber in the 1980s as heroin factories were even established at hujras (male guest houses) in those days. However, he said the police were now committed to eradicating all social evils from society.The DPO urged citizens to cooperate with the police to dismantle the nexus between law enforcement and drug smugglers.

He said that most of those arrested in narcotics cases were Afghan nationals allegedly linked to international drug cartels. He said heroin was manufactured locally, while ice was smuggled from Afghanistan.

He maintained that the number of drug-addicted individuals, especially among the youth, was rapidly increasing in Khyber, leading to a surge in other social and moral crimes within society.The DPO Khyber had dismissed 26 cops from service due to their links with drug mafias and involvement in facilitating drug smugglers.