Quetta: Anti-Narcotics Force is struggling to eliminate the menace of drugs from society and steps are being taken on priority basis to free Balochistan of drugs.
These views were expressed by Director Anti-Narcotics Force Balochistan, Brig: Aqib Nazeer Chaudhry, Joint Director Lt: Col Malik Sarfraz and Deputy Director Operation Major Muhammad Naveed Alam while speaking with representatives of print and electronic media at the Regional Directorate of Anti-Narcotics Force (A.N.F), Balochistan, Quetta Cantt here on Monday.
Brig Aqib Nazeer Chaudhry, Director, Anti-Narcotics Force said that A.N.F was taking steps to create awareness among the people about the abuse of drugs and in this regard seminars, functions and lectures would be arranged in schools, colleges and universities in close collaboration with Non-Governmental Organizations for the sole purpose of creating awareness for removing the menace of drugs.
He said that media could play a pivotal role in making the efforts of ANF a success. He requested media to extend help.
He informed the media persons that a Help Line (1415) at the Regional Directorate of Anti-Narcotics Force, Balochistan was established and the name of informer will be kept secret.
He said that drug factories in different cities of the province had been destroyed. He said that Anti-Narcotics Force, Balochistan with the cooperation of FC, Levies and Police was carrying out joint special operations against drug traffickers and destroying the crops of opium while near Pak-Iran Border, joint efforts between A.N.F, Balochistan and Iranian authorities were under way to stop drug trafficking.
He informed that until now 921 drug smugglers were arrested and in the operations 8 law enforcers embraced martyrdom. He said that A.N.F with the cooperation of all agencies intended to arrange free of cost training workshop. He said that A.N.F formed a special team that would identify the cultivation of opium and upon identification the personnel of A.N.F and local Administration would destroy the crops.
He said that Balochistan is a vast province and that was why A.N.F confronted hardships in stopping smuggling of drugs. He hoped that barbed wire along the border would prove to be beneficial to thwart smuggling of drugs.
He said that so far A.N.F, Balochistan has established 9 police stations in different cities of Balochistan. Brig: Aqib Nazeer Chaudhry said that A.N.F alone could not remove the menace of drugs and in that regard he would soon called on the Chief Minister, Balochistan and Chief Secretary Balochistan so that joint action for removing the menace of drugs be taken.