Karachi police trace alleged 'transnational drug network' linked to 'Pinky'

KARACHI: Karachi Additional Inspector General Azad Khan on Friday said investigators probing alleged drug kingpin Anmol alias “Pinky” had uncovered indications of a possible transnational narcotics network involving foreign nationals and operatives across multiple Pakistani cities.

Addressing a press conference in Karachi, the senior police official said authorities had received information suggesting that several individuals from African countries based in Lahore were allegedly connected to the network.

“We have come across information that some foreigners from African countries are involved in this network,” he said, adding that around 20 Lahore-based women were also allegedly linked to the operation.

According to investigators, the main supply of narcotics was allegedly prepared in Lahore before being transported to Karachi through a coordinated distribution system.

Police said Anmol used riders to deliver drugs, with eight of the nine identified couriers reportedly coming from Punjab. When law enforcement agencies began intercepting her riders, she allegedly shifted to using local delivery services to avoid detection.

Authorities said coordination was underway with the Anti-Narcotics Force, Federal Investigation Agency, National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency and Punjab police, while financial investigators were also examining suspicious transactions linked to the case.

AIG Khan said 20 cases linked to Anmol had surfaced in Sindh, including three recent cases, while three additional cases had been traced in Lahore. He added that she had previously been acquitted in six cases, declared a proclaimed offender in three and remained absconding in another case registered by the ANF.

Police alleged that Anmol had been involved in drug trafficking since 2014 and expanded online operations in Karachi in 2018 before relocating activities to Lahore after coming under surveillance.

Investigators conducting forensic analysis of her mobile phone reportedly recovered more than 800 contacts, of which around 300 were identified as being actively linked to drug-related activity.

Authorities are now categorising those contacts into suspected traffickers, facilitators and drug users as part of the ongoing investigation.

The police official further revealed that financial records showed transactions exceeding Rs30 million through accounts allegedly connected to the network, including one account in Lahore linked to transactions worth over Rs9 million.

He also confirmed that four names had been recommended for placement on the Exit Control List in connection with the case, while clarifying that no parliamentarians or their spouses were among them.

Police additionally claimed that Anmol had been nominated in a murder case linked to the death of a drug addict whose contact had been traced to her network.

The suspect was arrested earlier this week during a joint operation by Karachi police and intelligence agencies. According to police, officers recovered cocaine, narcotics, chemicals and an unlicensed 9mm pistol from her possession.

Investigators alleged that she operated an organised inter-city drug supply network, using WhatsApp for orders and dispatching narcotics concealed in food boxes through delivery riders.