PESHAWAR: In a major drug haul, the capital city police on Wednesday claimed to have arrested five members of an international drug smuggling gang and recovered 80 kilogrammes of methamphetamine from their possession.

       Addressing a press conference at the Malik Saad Shaheed police lines, Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Peshawar Abbas Ahsan said the recovered crystal meth was worth Rs100 million in the international market.

       He said the drug haul was the biggest in the province’s history, adding the police had also taken five drug smugglers into custody. He said two of the smugglers were Afghan nationals and the rest belonged to Balochistan.

       Mr Ahsan said the accused were detained during a raid at a house in Hayatabad area, where they were packing crystal meth into parcels to sell it in the city and smuggle to other areas. He said the recovered crystal meth was brought from Afghanistan.

       The CCPO said during initial investigation the accused confessed to be part of a drug ring and identified several dealers involved in the illegal business.

       Mr Ahsan identified the accused as Ishaq, Niamatullah, Afzal Ahmed, Mohammad Akif and Mohammad Shan.

       He said the police had also recovered digital scales, two cars and other items from the house.

       Published in Dawn, October 28th, 2021