The Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) during one and a half months of year 2005 has seized 1654 kilograms of heroin, 1359 kilograms of opium and 3719 kilograms of hashish from drug traffickers during its campaign against drugs. This was stated in a report released by the ANF here on Friday. In its campaign against the narcotics and drug abuses during the year 2004 the ANF has seized 7783 kilograms of heroin, 679 kg of opium and 57111 kg of hashish.
The report mentioned that more than 392 foreign nationals have been arrested during the year 2004 for drug trafficking and drugs were recovered from their possession.
It reads that the ANF has frozen the assets of the people involved in the drug business worth Rs 4.1069 billion. Assets forfeited worth Rs 457.154 million and the value of assets forfeited was worth Rs 48.82 million. The report mentioned that in 2003-04 the total area under cultivation in Pakistan was 6694 hectares out of which 78 percent has been eradicated. The report on Drug abuse situation in Pakistan stated that there are 4 million drug addicts in the country out of which 500,000 are heroin addicts, 60,000 are injecting drug users.
The government has approved a master plan for control of drug abuse with a total outlay of Rs 2.832 billion out of which Rs 1.072 billion have been allocated from drug demand reduction component alone, the report reads. Report also stated that the government has approved two Model Addiction Treatment and Rehabilitation Centers at Quetta and Islamabad with the estimated cost of Rs 22.52 million. These centers would work for treatment, rehabilitation and reintegration of drug addicts.
The report stated that the total heroin seized last year in the region totalled 72 metric tones, while the domestic consumption was approximately 112 metric tones. Since the total production in Afghanistan translated into 360 metric tones and there was still a scope 176 metric tones to be trafficked to the international community.
Highlighting the performance of the ANF, the report stated that the Force is working as a supervisory co-ordinating and advisory body in the field of narcotics. ANF is responsible for supply reduction, inquires and investigates into assets of drug barons, pursues legal cases, limiting the smuggling, trafficking and distribution of narcotics, eradication of opium poppy. It is active in enhancing international co-operation and reducing the demand of drugs through preventive education, treatment and rehabilitation programmes.
The report stated that the ANF would launch a "Friends for Life" Club in collaboration of private sector and NGOs to create awareness against the drug abuse and treatment, rehabilitation and reintegration of the drug addicts back into society.
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