Lahore Police Official Faces Drug Smuggling Charges via Drones
A senior official of the Lahore police, who previously headed the city’s anti-narcotics wing, has been booked for his alleged involvement in cross-border drug smuggling using drones. The case against the official was registered by the Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) after confirmation of his involvement, according to Lahore DIG (Investigation) Imran Kishwar.
To further investigate the illegal cross-border drug smuggling, a high-powered committee of senior police officers has been established, led by Lahore SSP Internal Accountability (IAB) Tauqeer Naeem. The committee will be assisted by SP Crime Record Officer Aftab Phularwan and a DSP. Departmental action has already been initiated against the police officer, and further proceedings will be based on the findings of the inquiry report.
The issue first came to light in July when a drone carrying six kilograms of drugs, worth millions of rupees, crashed on the outskirts of Lahore. Reports suggested that drug traffickers were using unmanned aerial vehicles to smuggle large quantities of methamphetamine, also known as ice, from Lahore to India.
The ANF was alarmed by the use of technology in drug smuggling and subsequently made several arrests. As part of the investigation, it was revealed that DSP Mazhar Iqbal, who had obtained interim bail, was also involved in the alleged smuggling operation.
Sources indicate that the DSP arrested a suspected drug dealer named Ahmed and confiscated 35 kilograms of heroin. However, after allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs75 million and three vehicles from Ahmed, the officer released him. The FIR against Ahmed stated the recovery of only 450 grams of heroin. Subsequently, Ahmed was detained again in an ANF raid, along with another prime suspect named Fiaz, who is believed to be connected to the DSP and the cross-border smuggling.
According to police reports, drones were utilized to drop drug packages at specific locations in Indian Punjab, with communication about the delivery of the drugs facilitated through an unknown means. Payments for these drugs were made in the UAE.
Recently, a drone carrying drugs crashed in Kahna, and the police seized the drone, handed over the drugs to the ANF, and subsequently closed the case, likely to avoid controversy. A similar incident occurred in Narowal where five suspects involved in cross-border heroin smuggling through drones were arrested.
This case highlights the concerning use of technology in drug trafficking and emphasizes the need for increased vigilance and stricter measures to combat such activities. The ongoing investigations will shed light on the extent of the involvement of individuals within law enforcement agencies and their complicity in drug smuggling operations.
