5,891 drug peddlers arrested in Karachi this year

The Sindh police will beef up their crackdown on the narcotics mafia operating at educational institutions. IG Ghulam Nabi Memon ordered taking action after the Special Branch and other investigation units submitted their comprehensive reports.

In a recent law and order meeting, Memon expressed shock over several reports claiming drug peddlers harming the youth by operating their networks at educational institutions. Expressing concern over the situation, he ordered a comprehensive survey, investigation and action against the narcotics mafia.

The Special Branch submitted their report, following which the IG ordered a comprehensive crackdown on the narcotics mafia. The report claimed that the trend of drugs consumption at educational institutions, particularly among teenagers, is apparently on the rise.

Parents send their children to educational institutions to get a good education, but due to the drugs mafia’s network 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 and criminal activities to make money for fulfilling their addiction. Due to long-term and excessive drugs consumption, 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. To identify the drugs mafia’s network at educational institutions of Karachi, a survey and monitoring of educational institutions has been carried out.

After Memon’s orders, different Sindh police units carried out crackdowns. In the first five months of this year, 4,965 FIRs were registered and 5,891 drug peddlers arrested. The South Zone police conducted 610 raids at drug dens, and arrested 785 suspects with 14kg ice, 2kg heroin and 387kg hashish.

The East Zone police conducted 373 raids, and arrested 669 suspects with 8.23kg ice, 6kg heroin and 394kg hashish. The West Zone police conducted 379 raids, and arrested 604 suspects with 3.47kg ice, 2.76kg heroin and 190kg hashish.

The Hyderabad Range police conducted 1,736 raids, and arrested 2,018 suspects with 388kg ice, 1.33kg heroin and 839kg hashish. The Shaheed Benazirabad Range police conducted 419 raids, and arrested 611 suspects with 1.69kg ice 399kg hashish.

The Sukkur Range police conducted 441 raids, and arrested 497 suspects with 2.07kg ice and 157kg hashish. The Larkana Range police conducted 341 raids, and arrested 395 suspects with 9.89kg ice and 467kg hashish.

Officials said that the report submitted to the IG also stated that youngsters (male and female) in different districts are getting addicted to narcotics very quickly. Moreover, male and female students of different schools, colleges and universities are also using narcotics of different types. It has also been observed that dance parties are one of the main venues for students to use narcotics.

Due to strict action against narcotics dens, drug dealers are now using social media for dealing, booking, supply and payment. Some dealers do not have their mobile SIMs registered in their own name, and they use social media platforms so that their location cannot be traced.

Drug peddlers and their accomplices are involved in selling narcotics through WhatsApp, and students are also being provided narcotics inside cafés. The report also mentioned the names of the drug peddlers with their phone numbers. A major crackdown against them is expected soon.

The Sindh Home Department has formed a committee comprising MPAs and police officers to assist educational institutions in fighting against drugs. The decision was taken during a meeting of the provincial assembly’s Standing Committee on Home Affairs.

The meeting discussed the sale of drugs online, drugs use in schools, crackdown on terrorists, prevention of opium cultivation, and stopping the sale of chemically contaminated milk.

Committee Chairperson Faryal Talpur inquired about police performance in the fight against drugs. She issued directives to ensure a comprehensive and organised province-wide crackdown on the drugs mafia, and demanded data on conviction rates in drugs-related cases. She stressed on exemplary punishments for the arrested drug peddlers.

IG Memon participated in the meeting through videoconferencing, and said that a coordinated action against the drugs mafia is his main objective. Senior supervisory officers are regularly instructed through meetings, he added. He emphasised that the eradication of crime in any form is the police’s top priority.