What Happened: Police busted an international drug trafficking ring in Lahore, arresting including actoress Nigar Chaudhry foreign and local suspects, and seizing cocaine, ecstasy, and heroin worth Rs150 million.
What you need to know: The Organised Crime Unit (OCU) of the police claims to have dismantled an international drug trafficking network, arresting three foreign nationals along with their local associates and seizing 4.5 kg of cocaine valued at Rs150 million, as well as other drugs.
What more: According to police, the suspects distributed cocaine across Lahore and Punjab, while much of it was trafficked to Iran with the help of accomplices in Balochistan. OCU DIG Imran Kishwar confirmed the operation to *Dawn*, stating that his teams apprehended international drug dealers and seized Rs150 million worth of cocaine. The OCU North team arrested Irfan alias Amir Cheema alias Billa (a Spanish citizen), Qamar Virk (an Italian citizen), and Imad Butt alias Speedy (a UK citizen). Cheema, wanted in four Anti-Narcotics Force cases, had previously served a six-year prison sentence in Spain. A significant portion of the drugs was seized from the residence of stage actress Nigar Chaudhry, who is married to Butt.
Also: Local distributors Waqas, Faheem Jutt, and Rizwan were also arrested, with police seizing 25,000 ecstasy pills and 7 kg of heroin from their hideouts. DIG Kishwar noted that the suspects supplied high-priced cocaine to elite circles in Punjab and to Iranian dealers, where strict anti-drug laws elevate its market value. The OCU has gathered further information that may lead to additional arrests within the network.