The Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) has arrested 20 Nigerian nationals in coordinated raids across Islamabad and Rawalpindi, saying it has broken up an international drug trafficking network that targeted students.

The force announced the arrests in a statement on Wednesday, reported by the Associated Press of Pakistan. Officers carried out intelligence-based operations at several locations across the twin cities and recovered 4.432kg of narcotics.

What officers recovered

The haul comprised 1.682kg of cocaine, 2kg of methamphetamine, known as ice, and 750 grams of weed, according to the ANF. The suspects were not named in the statement.

The ANF said the network was allegedly involved in smuggling, distributing and selling cocaine, ice and weed among young people, particularly students of educational institutions in Islamabad and Rawalpindi, including in hostels.

Surveillance before the raids

The force said it had been monitoring the network through sustained intelligence gathering and surveillance before moving in. Preliminary inquiries found that two of those arrested were already out on bail in an earlier narcotics case.

The ANF described the arrests as a major breakthrough in its nationwide campaign against drug trafficking and said its operations against the supply of drugs to educational institutions would continue. Legal proceedings against those arrested have begun.

Sources: The Sun (Associated Press of Pakistan) and Skardu Times (Aaj News)