Joint director of the Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) Lieutenant-Colonel Wasif Sajjad has said the Presidential Ordinance to allow women prisoners release on bail has dented ANF's efforts against drug smuggling as women are being used for the purpose.
"We have arrested 10 lady smugglers recently and under this ordinance they would be released and would most probably restart their activities," Colonel Sajjad said while talking to reporters here on Sunday.
"The ANF during the last six months recovered 155 kilogram heroin, 4161 kilogram charas, 190 kilogram opium, besides arresting 240 drug-traffickers, including 32 foreigners."
He said during six months, ANF confiscated 39 vehicles and 57 cases are under investigation. During 2005, he said, 130 cases were registered against drug smugglers while 174 were arrested.
"We have got a gallantry force committed to eliminate drug smuggling from the country," he added. Colonel Wasif said drug barons are using new tactics for the trafficking.
He said foreigners, particularly Nigerian and Afghanis arrived during the last few years have established an organised network. They are using new methods for drug smuggling, but despite that the ANF has succeeded in arresting many of them, he added. He stressed the need of deporting foreign smugglers, who complete their terms in jail.
"They are staying back in Pakistan and restart their ugly business once again," he said, adding the ANF has sent proposals to the government but lack of funds is the main problem.
He said the Nigerian embassy in Pakistan is not showing any interest in taking their citizens back to their country. They are least bothered about the involvement of Nigerians in drug smuggling. Many Nigerians have destroyed their travel documents and have applied for asylum at the UNHCR, he added.
Responding to a question, the ANF official said after the collapse of the Taliban government in Afghanistan poppy cultivation has increased manifold.