Afghan-origin doctor, policeman among eight held; meth worth Rs900m seized

KARACHI: A police task force on narcotics in Karachi, in collaboration with a federal civilian intelligence agency, carried out an intelligence-based raid on a warehouse in Mehran Town, Korangi, on Tuesday, arresting eight members of an alleged “international narcotics network” and recovering 50kg of crystal meth, also known as ice, worth Rs900 million.

Speaking at a press conference, West Deputy Inspector General of Police Irfan Ali Baloch said the suspects were allegedly operating an international narcotics network and transporting drugs from Pakistan to Thailand and Malaysia in bulk quantities.

He said the police had recovered 50kg of ice, estimated to be worth Rs900 million. He revealed that the consignment intercepted before export weighed between 200kg and 250kg and had an estimated value of $25 million to $30m (Rs6 billion to Rs8bn). He added that more consignments were expected to arrive in Karachi from Balochistan.

“Acting on credible information, the task force, in conjunction with the intelligence agency, established that the narcotics were being concealed in crates of tiles and marble at a warehouse in Mehran Town for export to the Philippines under the cover of a ‘legitimate’ consignment,” DIG Baloch said.

“A covert operation was mounted against an international network trafficking methamphetamine (ice) to Malaysia and the Philippines.”

Sharing details of the trafficking routes and the network’s linkages, DIG Baloch said the present consignment was destined for the Philippines from Karachi, with overseas handlers in South Africa and Thailand.

He said the network had established links in Karachi, while the ice was sourced from Chaman in Balochistan and hawala transactions were routed through Lahore.

Regarding the roles of the eight suspects, DIG Baloch said Nazir Soomro was the principal accused who directed the procurement, concealment and export of the consignment.

He added that Shahid Mastoi arranged and maintained the Mehran Town warehouse used to conceal the narcotics, while Sheikh Khalid provided storage for the drugs and facilitated banking channels for local transactions.

According to the DIG, Dr Noor Ahmed Khilji and Garan Khan, both of Afghan origin and holders of Pakistani CNICs, arranged the supply from Balochistan. Abdullah alias Wahab worked as a courier, while Mohammed Kamran, also a courier, was a police constable posted in Malir. Nasir worked as an intermediary and distributor, facilitating transactions involving Dr Noor.

He said the police recovered 50kg of ice, along with a car, two pistols and Rs350,000, from the suspects.

The DIG said the ice was procured locally at Rs220,000 per kilogram and contracted for export at $6,000 per kilogram, against an estimated destination-market price of $100,000 to $120,000 per kilogram. Of the 200kg to 250kg contracted for export, the remaining quantity had not been delivered, he said, adding that the full consignment had an estimated destination-market value of $25 million to $30m (Rs6bn to Rs8bn).

Organized network

DIG Baloch said the case pointed to an “organised network” with domestic and international linkages involving procurement, financing, concealment and attempted export.

He said the concealment of the narcotics in a commercial consignment of marble indicated the “deliberate exploitation of legitimate trade channels”.

“Overseas handlers, suppliers, financial facilitators, warehouse operators and clearing agents indicate a structured supply chain, not an isolated attempt,” the senior officer said.

He feared that had the consignment reached its destination, it could have caused reputational damage to Pakistan internationally.

Tracing foreign linkages

DIG Baloch said the narcotics task force, which also included the Special Investigation Unit (SIU), was further questioning the arrested suspects to establish the full network, identify additional facilitators and beneficiaries, and trace the complete financial trail, including the cryptocurrency advance and local accounts used in the transactions.

He added that the task force was also verifying the identities and roles of foreign handlers in Malaysia, Thailand and South Africa in coordination with other law-enforcement agencies, customs authorities and international counterparts to trace the network’s overseas linkages.