Police plan to dismantle narcotics network at educational institutes

The Sindh police may be gearing up for a crackdown on the narcotics mafias operating at educational institutes. The move comes after a comprehensive report was prepared by the Special Branch of the Sindh police.

Officials said that during a law and order meeting to especially discuss a crackdown on the narcotics mafias, former provincial police chief Ghulam Nabi Memon had expressed shock over several reports claiming that drug peddlers were ruining the youth and operating their networks under various pattens at educational institutes.

Expressing concern over the situation, ex-IGP Memon had ordered a comprehensive survey and investigation that was marked to the Special Branch, which under Addl IGP Khadim Hussain Rind had formed teams with orders for them to compile a comprehensive report so that a crackdown on the mafias could be launched.

Officials said that the Special Branch submitted its report, and there was much expectation that in the coming days Addl IGP Rind would order a comprehensive crackdown on the narcotics mafias.

Citing some details of the report, the officials said: “Reportedly, the trend of consumption of drugs at educational institutions, particularly among teenagers, is on the rise.

“Parents send their children to educational institutions to get a good education, but due to the drugs mafias’ networks and influence at educational institutions, they become addicted to drugs and forget the basic purpose of education.

“They not only waste their money but also their health, and ultimately get involved in illegal or criminal activities to make money and for the fulfilment of their addiction. Due to long and excessive consumption of drugs, they get mental and physical illnesses.

“They are all aware of the ill effects of drugs, but in an environment where drugs are available easily and without interruption, they become addicted. There is a need to take strict action against drug peddlers and solve this issue on a priority basis.”

Survey results

Officials said that in order to identify the drugs mafias and their networks at educational institutions of Karachi, a survey and monitoring of educational institutions of the city was carried out.

Male and female youth in District South are getting addicted to narcotics very quickly. Apart from this, students of different schools, colleges and universities are also using narcotics of different types.

It has also been observed that in District South and other areas of Karachi, dance parties are one of the main sources of using narcotics by students of different educational institutions.

Reportedly, a number of narcotics dealers and sellers are involved in selling narcotics through their accomplices and some of the students. Due to strict action against narcotics dens, these dealers are now using social media for dealing and booking, and supply and payment.

Some of the dealers do not have mobile SIMs registered in their name, and so they use SIMs registered in the name of other people.

Then they use social media websites and apps such as Facebook Messenger on that SIM, and they keep that SIM at home or out of city so that their location cannot be traced. Officials said that the same patterns of drug peddlers were also observed in the East, West and other districts of the city.

Moreover, the report also mentions the names of reputed universities and other educational institutes of Karachi, especially in District South near Baloch Colony and universities established in District East, where the mafias operate, added the officials.

They said that around university campuses, where more than 5,000 students are getting an education, different areas have been located, adding that they include several cafés situated in front of the universities which students visit for refreshments.

Officials said that this is the time when drug peddlers and their accomplices are involved in selling narcotics through WhatsApp, with the accomplices providing narcotics to the students inside the cafés.

Moreover, the report also mentions the names of the drug peddlers, with their mobile phone numbers, so in the coming days a major crackdown against narcotics mafias is expected, they added.