Law enforcement agencies are intensifying efforts to crack down on drug smuggling through courier and parcel services, as traffickers increasingly exploit these routes to evade traditional checkpoints.
KARACHI:
The Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) has raised the alarm over the growing use of the dark web and social media platforms to purchase drugs using cryptocurrency—an alarming trend that complicates Pakistan’s battle against narcotics. Authorities have noted a surge in the trafficking of weed and cocaine from Western and African countries, alongside a worrying pivot from plant-based substances to synthetic drugs.
In response, law enforcement is tightening its grip on drug smuggling through courier and parcel services, a method traffickers are increasingly using to bypass conventional inspections. Over the past year, authorities dismantled 33 drug trafficking groups, including a notorious Nigerian syndicate.
Smugglers have also adopted advanced tactics to hide narcotics, often concealing them within sports equipment, surgical instruments, and textile shipments. Such tactics not only pose a security threat but also tarnish Pakistan’s international image.
Brigadier Syed Imran Ali, Director Enforcement at ANF Headquarters, confirmed that Pakistan has maintained its poppy-free status since 2001—an achievement reaffirmed this year. Speaking at a Karachi briefing, Brigadier Ali highlighted that Pakistan’s strategic location makes it a transit hub for global drug trafficking. He expressed grave concern over the growing use of the dark web and social media to buy drugs with cryptocurrency, calling it a mounting threat. Recent ANF operations have revealed significant inflows of weed and cocaine from the West and Africa.
Brigadier Muhammad Umar Farooq, Regional Directorate Commander Sindh, noted that courier and parcel systems—both domestically and internationally—play a significant role in drug trafficking. While major courier hubs have scanners and require ID documents and sender/recipient addresses, traffickers exploit gaps in neighborhood-level parcel handling. In response, institutional controls are being strengthened to curb smuggling through these services.
With nearly 170 million of Pakistan’s 240 million population aged 18 to 31, safeguarding this vast youth segment from the scourge of drugs is a national priority. The ANF continues to combat drug smuggling, but broader social awareness and community action are crucial to address this challenge.
Between early 2024 and the present, joint ANF operations with other agencies led to the seizure of 452 tons of drugs, with the ANF alone recovering over 244 tons—58% of all seizures. At airports nationwide, 436 suspects were arrested, and 373 drug-laden parcels intercepted. Maritime efforts resulted in the seizure of 19 containers. Operations targeting Gulf-bound drug smuggling led to 403 arrests and the seizure of 5,783 kilograms of narcotics.
Working with international partners, the ANF conducted 44 maritime operations that dismantled 33 trafficking groups, including the Nigerian syndicate. Traffickers were also found concealing drugs in sports goods, surgical instruments, and textile shipments in attempts to damage Pakistan’s global standing. Afghans and Nigerians have been identified as particularly active in these schemes.
Pakistan, ranked fifth among the countries most affected by climate change, incinerates seized drugs in secure facilities to protect the environment.
The rise of drug use in educational institutions is a serious concern. The ANF has conducted several raids around these institutions, seizing 1,420 kilograms of drugs. A total of 363 operations aimed at curbing drug use among students led to the arrest of 421 suspects identified through intelligence.
Since 2005, 30,000 drug addicts have been rehabilitated and reintegrated into society through ANF’s efforts. The force not only targets traffickers but also actively prosecutes them, boasting an impressive conviction rate of 85%.
