Anti-Narcotics Force says it helped US, Sri Lanka bust Afghanistan-based drug trafficking network

The Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) said on Friday that it had assisted in the busting of a transnational drug trafficking network through intelligence sharing.

The ANF said in a statement that it shared information with US and Sri Lankan authorities, who conducted an international joint operation, seizing 671 kilogrammes of methamphetamine (ICE) linked to the Afghanistan-based drug trafficking network from Karachi and Colombo ports.

On Wednesday, Sri Lankan police and the US embassy in Sri Lanka also announced the busting of a drug network and the seizing of almost half a tonne of crystal methamphetamine in a joint operation last month. However, they identified the drug network as Pakistani and said two Pakistani men had been arrested.

The US embassy in Colombo said the narcotics, valued at $21 million and concealed in bath towels, were meant to be smuggled to international markets via Sri Lanka.

In its statement, ANF said that, based on “actionable intelligence” provided by it, 200kg of methamphetamine was recovered from a container at Karachi Port. It said the mastermind of the network was also arrested, whom ANF identified as Ehsanullah, an Afghan.

Local handlers part of the network were also arrested, the statement added.

“After thorough investigations from the Afghan kingpin,” ANF said it shared “critical information” with Sri Lankan authorities and America’s Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

“This timely information resulted in recovery of 471kg of methamphetamine.”

The DEA then coordinated with Sri Lankan authorities and conducted a joint operation at Colombo Port, resulting in the recovery of 471kg of methamphetamine concealed in towels, ANF said.

According to ANF, the busted network was attempting to use Pakistani territory as a transit route for transporting narcotics to international destinations.

“Pakistan remains both a transit and victim state for Afghan-origin drugs,” ANF noted.

It said it utilised “advanced intelligence-based strategies” to identify the busted network”, adding that the “successful operation reflects ANF’s professional capabilities, commitment to combating narcotics trafficking, and its effective cooperation with international law enforcement agencies”.

“ANF’s efforts in dismantling international drug trafficking organisations and apprehending Afghan drug traffickers and their local facilitators have been formally acknowledged by Sri Lankan authorities and the US DEA, underscoring ANF’s effective role in international counter-narcotics cooperation,” the statement read.