INTERNATIONAL DRUG DAY: OVER 48 TONS OF NARCOTICS BURNT IN BALOCHISTAN

QUETTA, June 26: Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) of Balochistan has burnt 48.5
tons of illegal drugs on the eve of International Drug Day, here on Monday.
The drugs include 4.5 tons of heroin, 35 tons of hashish and nine tons of
opium, collectively worth at 731 million US dollar.

The drugs were confiscated by the ANF in different operations conducted in
various areas of the province specialty coast of Mekran and Chagai districts.

The ANF has arranged the ceremony at Kech Road outside the city area to
mark the International Drug Day. Provincial Governor Justice Amirul Mulk
Mengal was the chief guest on the occasion.

A large number of people belonging to various NGOs, civil and military
officials and Regional Director of the ANF Balochistan Brig Abdul Razzaq
Baloch were also present.

Speaking on the occasion, the Governor urged upon the anti-drug agencies
and other organizations to play their role in elimination of drug
trafficking from the society which was very serious threat to the whole nation.

"We have to make our society free of drug, drug-free country and should not
allow any one to use our territory as transit route," Justice Mengal said,
adding that government would continue its efforts till drug trafficking was
completely stopped.

He called upon the people to rise to the occasion and help eliminating drug
trafficking and peddling. The agencies who were responsible to check drug
peddling in cities and towns must take effective steps to arrest all drug
peddlers, he said.

Justice Mengal also asserted the need for treatment and rehabilitation of
drug addicts. He said that the treatment and rehabilitation centres must
provide full support to the treatment facilities.

The NGOs should also play effective role in mass awareness, he said adding:
"Pakistan has achieved success in eradicating poppy growth and I am
confident that drug trafficking will also be completely stopped with
efforts of various government agencies."

He also appealed to all segments of the society to join hands in combating
against narcotics, its production, preparation, transporting and its use.

"Let us make our society free of drugs in the shortest span of time and let
our children live in a drug-free society," Justice Mengal said.

Earlier, Regional Director of the Balochistan ANF, Brig Abdul Razzak
welcoming the chief guest highlighted the achievements of the agency in
fighting drug trafficking specially the cross border smuggling.

He said that during year 1999 and 2000 till today the ANF had made record
seizures which include 2.7 tons of heroin, 26 tons of hashish and eight
tons of opium.

He said that in some of operations eight drug smugglers were killed and 20
others injured.

He said that the ANF prosecuted 84 accused who were sentenced by the courts
with a fine of Rs 17.681 million. Besides, Rs 50 million property had also
been seized.

A walk was also held in the provincial capital. Provincial Minister for
Revenue and Excise Mir Mohabat Khan Marri led the walk while a large number
of people, social workers and schoolchildren participated.

khyber agency: The political administration of Khyber Agency burnt on
Monday huge quantity of narcotics to observe International Day Against Drug
Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, adds APP.

The narcotics, including 460 mounds of charas, 93kg opium, 2kg heroin, 28
bottles of acid, 158 litres and 10 bags of different chemicals, were
recovered from smugglers and drug traffickers on different occasions by the
administration and the ANF.

Speaking on the tribal chiefs assured that they would fully cooperate with
the administration in the eradication of drugs. However, they called for
initiation of development works in their areas and demanded provision of
jobs to the tribal people.

Political Agent Khyber Agency, Tipu Mohabat Khan said that poppy crops over
an area of 1,416 acres had been destroyed in the agency. In this regard, he
thanked the tribal maliks for their cooperation. He claimed that there was
no heroin manufacturing laboratory in the agency.

He also said that there were areas like Tirah in Khyber Agency where no
development scheme had been initiated during the last 52 years. He said
PC-1 for a Rs1-billion-project had been prepared for the uplift of the Agency.