t was a hot summer night in Kahna in July 2023 when the silence was disrupted by the crash of a drone.

As villagers curiously surrounded the machine, they discovered that it was laden with six kilogrammes of heroin. They alerted the police, who confiscated the drone and the drug consignment. The police have yet to share information on the origin and target destination of the drone with the public.

The drone crash was yet another reminder of the persistent and evolving drug smuggling issue that Pakistan faces. Despite the government’s stated policy of zero-tolerance for drugs smuggling and use, law enforcement agencies face a host of issues in their relentless war on drugs.

SP Aftab Ahmed Phularwan, who leads the Narcotics Investigation Unit of Lahore police, is aware of the complexity of the issue. “The drug problem is an ongoing challenge for Pakistan,” he tells The News on Sunday.

“Pakistan is both a source and transit country for drugs. Drugs like heroin, opium and charas are produced in Pakistan and Afghanistan and smuggled to other parts of the world. Simultaneously, drugs like cocaine and crystal meth have found a thriving market in Pakistan.”

This makes drug control a formidable task for local enforcement.

The government has placed a robust framework of law enforcement bodies to tackle drug smuggling. These include the Anti-Narcotics Force (which works under the Narcotics Control Division); Pakistan Customs (working under the Federal Board of Revenue); Airport Security Force, Pakistan Rangers, Pakistan Rangers, Frontier Corps and Pakistan Coast Guards (under the Ministry of Interior), Frontier Constabulary (under Home Department of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) and provincial police departments.

These agencies work in coordination to tackle the drug menace.

“There used to be professional rivalry among different departments, but now there is a culture of cooperation,” says Mr Phularwan.

“For instance, if we receive a tip-off about a drug consignment in Peshawar, we alert the ANF and the other relevant departments. The ANF reciprocates whenever it has valuable information. Similar arrangements exist with other departments.”

The advent of technology has complicated as well as facilitated law-enforcers’ anti-drug smuggling job. The same goes for smugglers. The drone carrying drugs that crashed in Kahna is an indication of how technology is being leveraged by smugglers. Earlier, drones were detected in Narowal area where they were used to smuggle heroin across the border with India.

Phularwan’s NIU has been at the forefront of the effort to stop the high-tech smuggling. “In border villages, smugglers use drones to transport drugs to India. A kilogramme of heroin in Pakistan can fetch Rs 1.5 million, but in India, it is worth Rs 4.5 million. Payments are often routed through hundi dealers based in Dubai,” he says. This smuggling not only causes the drug problem but also introduces the complex issue of money laundering, adding another layer of challenges for law enforcement.

To tackle the drone issue, the government is introducing new legislation to regulate drones.

The country’s geographic location, sharing long borders with Afghanistan, India and Iran, complicates its drug-related issues. A 2018 UNODC report said Afghanistan was the world’s largest opium poppy cultivator.

Law enforcement agencies in Pakistan are continually adapting to these challenges. Enhanced cooperation, technological advancements and strategic operations are pivotal in the ongoing battle. However, the fight against drug smuggling is not just about intercepting drugs; it’s also about dismantling the networks that facilitate this illicit trade.

“Some gangs use women to shift drug supplies from one place to another,” says Phulrwan. He says this a tactic to benefit from the social norm against frisking women. He says several gangs busted recently in Lahore used to use women as shield at pickets.

Phularwan says that law enforcement efforts against drug smuggling will remain ineffective unless the issue of demand and supply is addressed. Easy availability of drugs creates a conducive environment for their sale. Combating this requires a multifaceted approach.

He says parents of young adult can play a role in preventing drug abuse by fostering strong bonds with their children. Phulrwan says that drug dealers and smugglers often target the youth as their primary clientele. Therefore, community and familial efforts are essential in reducing drug demand.

In addition to demand reduction, law-enforcers call for dismantling drug manufacturing units in Afghanistan and parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Without addressing the supply side of the drug problem, law enforcement efforts alone will not suffice.

Phularwan also mentions the societal taboo surrounding drug rehabilitation, urging a shift in perspectives. The society should abhor drugs, not the addicts. He says that the state has introduced exemplary punishments for drug smugglers, including life imprisonment and even the death penalty. This approach is inspired by Iran, where strict punishments have helped control drug use and smuggling.

A significant challenge in the fight against drug smuggling is that most smugglers use intermediaries to transport drugs. In case of a police bust, these front-men are arrested while their handlers escape. Unemployed people are frequently exploited as pawns by these smugglers.

Phularwan also mentions the issue of corruption in law enforcement and the judiciary. Drug smugglers, he says have substantial financial resources. However, the police have adopted a strict policy against corrupt officers. He cites the example of DSP Mazhar Iqbal and the SHOs from Shahdara and Hadiara, who are absconding after being accused of facilitating drug peddlers.

Another dimension of the drug problem is the class culture it has created. Cocaine, the most expensive drug, finds its way to upper-class parties despite being produced far away in South America. The high-value drug travels through various international routes, including sea and air, to reach Pakistan. In Pakistan, it can cost up to Rs 50 million per kilogramme.

SP Phularwan admits that monumental challenges lie ahead, but he speaks with conviction. “Our fight against drug smuggling is not just about seizing shipments and arresting smugglers; it’s also about safeguarding our future,” he says.

“We owe it to our children; to every family torn apart by drugs, to keep pushing forward. The vision of a drug-free Pakistan is our ultimate goal.”

The uthor is a freelance journalist