PESHAWAR: The Excise, Taxation and Narcotics Control Department, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, in coordination with the district administration and other concerned law enforcement agencies, conducted a joint grand operation in district Mohmand and district Swabi, destroying large tracts of illegally cultivated poppy crop.
The operation was carried out in line with the zero-tolerance policy of Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Muhammad Sohail Afridi, and the provincial government’s resolve to make the province drug-free.
During the joint operation in Tehsil Ambar, district Mohmand, a total of 37 acres of illegal poppy crop were destroyed on the spot.
The operation in Mohmand was jointly conducted by the Excise and Taxation Officer Mohmand, the district administration, officials of the Excise Police Station Peshawar Region, police and other officers and personnel of the Excise Department.
Meanwhile, in Bir Gali area of the district Swabi, the Excise Department, in collaboration with the local administration and other relevant departments and agencies, also destroyed a large area of illegally cultivated poppy crop.
During the operations, the teams reached the identified locations, verified the presence of the crop and destroyed the poppy fields in accordance with the prescribed legal procedure in order to prevent further production, storage and transportation.
Speaking in this regard, Provincial Minister for Excise, Taxation and Narcotics Control, Syed Fakhar Jehan, reiterated that the provincial government was strictly implementing its zero-tolerance policy against narcotics.
He said no space would be allowed for drugs anywhere in the province, whether involving dealers or smugglers, adding that actions against such elements would continue without interruption.
He further added that field-level operations against narcotics cultivation would also remain active and that strict and indiscriminate action would be taken against mafias and elements involved in the transportation of drugs.
He added that operations against those involved in the illegal cultivation, production and trafficking of narcotics would be further intensified.
In the Mohmand operation, Sajjad Khan, Excise and Taxation Officer, district Mohmand; Saifullah Afridi, Circle Officer; and Imad Khan, SHO, Excise Police Station, Peshawar Region, along with other officials and personnel of the Excise Department, district administration and concerned agencies, took part.
Similarly, in the Swabi operation, Assistant Commissioner Topi, Dr Yasmin Sana; Shakeel Khan, Excise and Taxation Officer, district Swabi Aakif Nawaz Khan, Circle Officer, and Shakeel Khan, SHO, Excise Police Station, Mardan Region, along with other Excise officials and personnel, officers of the Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) and other departments participated in the joint operation.
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