Twenty Nigerians have been arrested in Pakistan for their alleged links to an international drug trafficking syndicate operating in Islamabad and Rawalpindi.
A total of 4.432 kilogrammes of narcotics were recovered during the operation, according to a statement issued by the Associated Press of Pakistan on Wednesday, citing the country’s Anti-Narcotics Force.
The statement read, “Acting on credible intelligence, the ANF conducted coordinated intelligence-based operations at various locations across the twin cities, resulting in the arrest of 20 Nigerian nationals allegedly involved in drug trafficking and recovered 4.432 Kgs of narcotics.”
It added, “The recovered drugs comprised 1.682 kg of cocaine, 2 Kg of Methamphetamine (Ice) and 750 grams of weed.”
According to the agency, intelligence reports linked the suspects to an organised network allegedly involved in the smuggling, distribution and sale of cocaine, methamphetamine and cannabis among young people, particularly students of educational institutions in Islamabad and Rawalpindi.
The statement added, “Preliminary investigations have further revealed that two of the arrested Nigerian Nationals were already on bail in a previous narcotics-related case.”
The ANF said it had been monitoring the activities of the network through sustained intelligence gathering and surveillance before conducting the operations.
It described the arrests as a major breakthrough in its nationwide campaign against drug trafficking.
