By Khawaja Hamza
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) has achieved a major breakthrough against an international drug-trafficking network based in Afghanistan, leading to the seizure of 671 kilograms of methamphetamine (Ice) in coordinated operations at Karachi Port in Pakistan and Colombo Port in Sri Lanka.
According to the ANF spokesperson, Pakistan remains both a transit country and a victim state for Afghan-origin narcotics. In fulfilment of its international obligations, the ANF maintains close cooperation with allied and partner law-enforcement agencies to conduct coordinated and intelligence-based counter-narcotics operations.
Acting on actionable intelligence, the ANF launched an operation against a transnational drug-trafficking organization allegedly involved in smuggling Afghan-origin narcotics through Pakistani territory to international markets.
During the operation at Karachi Port, ANF officials recovered 200kg of methamphetamine (Ice) concealed inside a container. An alleged Afghan mastermind of the network, identified as Ehsan Ullah, was also arrested along with local handlers allegedly assisting the trafficking operation.
Following a detailed investigation and questioning of the alleged Afghan kingpin, the ANF obtained critical information regarding the international trafficking network and immediately shared the intelligence with Sri Lankan authorities and the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
Given the urgency of the matter and the potential for the narcotics to reach international markets, the ANF shared actionable intelligence with the U.S. DEA to facilitate a coordinated response and prevent further movement of the drugs.
The information provided by the Pakistani authorities enabled the DEA to coordinate with relevant Sri Lankan law-enforcement agencies. As a result, a joint operation was conducted at Colombo Port in Sri Lanka, where authorities recovered another 471kg of methamphetamine (Ice).
The narcotics had been skillfully concealed inside towels, according to the ANF.
With the recovery of 200kg at Karachi Port and 471kg at Colombo Port, a total of 671kg of methamphetamine linked to the Afghanistan-based drug-trafficking network was seized during the international operation.
The network was allegedly attempting to exploit Pakistani territory as a transit route for transporting Afghan-origin narcotics onward to international destinations.
The ANF said it played a pivotal role throughout the operation by employing advanced intelligence-based strategies to identify and disrupt the transnational drug-trafficking organization. The operation, according to the force, demonstrates its professional capabilities and commitment to combating international narcotics trafficking.
The successful coordination between Pakistan’s ANF, the U.S. DEA and Sri Lankan authorities also highlights the importance of timely intelligence-sharing and international law-enforcement cooperation in tackling transnational drug networks.
The ANF further stated that its efforts in dismantling international drug-trafficking organizations and apprehending Afghan drug traffickers and their local facilitators have been formally acknowledged by Sri Lankan authorities and the U.S. DEA.
The development underscores ANF’s expanding role in international counter-narcotics cooperation and Pakistan’s continued efforts to prevent its territory from being exploited as a transit corridor for Afghan-origin drugs destined for global markets.
