By Syed Tauqeer Zaidi
DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Authorities in Dera Ismail Khan foiled an audacious attempt to smuggle crystal meth, known locally as “ice,” by intercepting a vehicle that officials said was being used to disguise the operation under the guise of a family trip.
The Excise Department recovered two kilograms of the narcotic from a car bearing registration number FDW-2233 and arrested three suspects, including a woman, in connection with the case.
The operation was carried out under the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government’s zero-tolerance policy on narcotics, which has emphasised heightened monitoring and enforcement across the province.
Acting on directives from the Excise and Taxation Officer of Dera, Faheem Nawaz Khan, the In-charge Inspector Muhammad Ilyas led the District Mobile Squad in intercepting the suspicious vehicle at the Joint Check Post Aman Mela.
Officials said the seized methamphetamine, weighing a total of 2,000 grams, was intended for distribution, though the precise network behind the smuggling attempt remains under investigation.
A formal case has been registered at the Excise Police Station, and authorities indicated that further interrogations of the suspects were underway to uncover additional links and accomplices.
The seizure marks a significant enforcement action in the district’s ongoing campaign against drug trafficking, reflecting a concerted effort by provincial authorities to curb the spread of illicit narcotics.
Local law enforcement officials described the operation as a demonstration of vigilance and operational coordination, highlighting the challenges posed by increasingly sophisticated smuggling methods and the need for constant oversight at key checkpoints and transit routes.
