ANF foils 12 attempts to smuggle 46 kg narcotics to Gulf
Eighteen suspects were arrested in intelligence-based operations at major international airports, with most bound for Saudi Arabia.
RAWALPINDI: The Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) said it foiled 12 attempts to smuggle 46.936 kilogrammes of narcotics to Gulf countries during intelligence-based operations at major international airports across Pakistan, arresting 18 suspects, according to the Associated Press of Pakistan.
An ANF spokesperson said the operations were carried out under strict surveillance and enhanced counter-narcotics measures. Most of the suspects were travelling to Saudi Arabia, while others were bound for the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, the spokesperson added.
The force did not immediately identify the airports where the arrests took place or provide a breakdown of the types of drugs seized. The total weight of 46.936 kg was recovered across the 12 operations, according to the ANF. No information was given about the suspects' nationalities or how the narcotics were concealed.
Airport-based smuggling remains a persistent concern for Pakistani authorities. The ANF regularly conducts intelligence-led operations at international airports to stop narcotics from leaving the country. The force has previously reported intercepting heroin, methamphetamine and other drugs destined for Gulf markets.
The 12 arrests announced on Monday were made under the ANF's ongoing counter-narcotics campaign, which combines profiling, surveillance and international cooperation. The spokesperson did not say whether the cases were linked or part of a single investigation.
The ANF is the federal agency responsible for combating narcotics and psychotropic substances in Pakistan. It operates at airports, border crossings and major transport hubs. Its airport operations are part of a broader effort to prevent Pakistan from being used as a transit route for drugs heading to the Middle East and beyond.
No further details about the suspects or the investigation were immediately available.
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