Ashrafuddin Pirzada
KHYBER: To avoid being arrested, drug dealers in district Khyber have begun utilizing advanced technology Global Positioning Service(GPS) to secure their operations to transport narcotics from one place to another.
This correspondent interviewed narcotics dealers and traffickers in the Khyber district and revealed that dodging the law enforcement agencies they have adopted modern technology GPS to minimize the risk of arrest.
For the first time, the sophisticated method of drug trafficking, which employs Google Maps for smuggling, has been exposed at both national and international levels.
The newly adopted drug distribution technique involves large-scale dealers based in the Khyber district sending narcotics to various cities and villages across the country where buyers are located.
A drug trafficker on the condition of anonymity told this scribe that Instead of transporting the narcotics, smugglers leave drugs at specific locations in urban or rural areas where they take photos of the location and then send these details via WhatsApp to the smugglers who purchased the drugs or to further send to another one in Khyber.
He said the major smugglers forward the location and photos to buyers, who then collect the drugs from the specific location sent by social media apps. He added that transactions of the sold drugs are completed within a few hours, and payments are made through banks.
Another Khyber district resident who was also part of a location-based drug network revealed that he was recently offered a chance to distribute drugs in Sialkot, Punjab. He said he would leave the drugs at designated locations, take photos, and send the details via WhatsApp to the major dealers. He confirmed that the process was straightforward and noted that each major dealer has a well-organized network both domestically and internationally, ensuring a continuous drug trade.
The drug dealers said that the modern method of drug trafficking, known as the location-based network, also operates in Gulf states and Western countries, with its main hub being the United Arab Emirates.
They said the amount of sold drugs from the international transactions is sent to major dealers in the Khyber district through temporary or anonymous bank accounts. Adding that this method is considered relatively secure as it avoids physical carriers and uses WhatsApp for communication.
Former District Police Officer (DPO) Khyber, Saleem Abbas Kulachi, said that the network often uses fake identities for WhatsApp accounts and funds are transferred through temporary bank accounts, making enforcement challenging.
He said efforts to dismantle the network have faced difficulties, but police focus on local youth who suddenly acquire wealth, leading to mobile phone checks for evidence.
The police officer said successful operations have been reported, with significant achievements in recent times. The location-based network has now spread to Peshawar, Charsadda and other districts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa posing a serious concern.
In the last six months, key police officers including DSP Sawal Zar Khan Afridi, station house officers Adnan Afridi, Muhammad Haroon, and assistant subinspector Muhammad Baz have managed to break down a substantial portion of the location-based drug network.
Khyber police have filed 65 cases and arrested 120 individuals involved in drug trafficking.
Khyber district police have seized 7,041 kilograms of hashish, 402 kilograms of opium, 437 kilograms of ice and 605 kilograms of heroin between June 2023 and June 2024.
As a result of the successful police raids and operations of drug trafficking within the district and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gulf countries, they were significantly reduced.
The UAE Interior Minister awarded a commendation certificate and honorary shield to the former DPO Khyber Saleem Abbas Kulachi, received through IG Police Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Akhtar Hayat Khan, a week ago.
