Drug network linked to ‘Pinky’ spans Africa, Pakistan: Karachi police AIG

KARACHI: Karachi Police Additional Inspector General (AIG)  Azad Khan said on Friday that an investigation into alleged drug queenpin Anmol alias “Pinky” has revealed links extending beyond Pakistan, including contacts in African countries, as authorities probe what they suspect is a transnational narcotics network.

Addressing a press conference in Karachi, Azad Khan said that investigators had retrieved 869 contacts from the suspect’s mobile phone, including 132 numbers based in Karachi.

“This case is a test for us and we will take it to its logical conclusion,” he said. “You will see that her brand name itself will become the trap for her.”

He said that the investigation was not limited to Karachi and that individuals who purchased drugs from the network and sold them further had already been arrested. Authorities were also identifying facilitators linked to the case, he added.

Azad Khan said a raid was conducted at the suspect’s previous residence in the Sachal area, where drugs were also recovered. He said the narcotics were being smuggled into Pakistan from abroad.

He said financial records showed transactions worth Rs300 million linked to the suspect, adding that investigators were reviewing her bank accounts.

According to the police officer, preliminary findings suggest the network includes individuals from African countries as well as Lahore-based operatives. He said some foreign nationals believed to be involved were currently in Lahore and may number between six and eight.

He added that women based in Lahore were also part of the network under investigation.

Azad Khan said coordination had been established with the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and cybercrime authorities to expand the probe.

He said Anmol has multiple criminal cases registered against her in Sindh and was previously involved in drug trafficking in different cities. Investigators believe she had been active since 2014 and expanded operations in Karachi in 2018, he added.

The police officer said that she allegedly operated through online networks and later shifted base when she came under scrutiny.

He further said that of the 869 contacts recovered from her phone, location data had been obtained for 639 numbers, with only 132 traced to Karachi.

Azad Khan said the case involved serious internal lapses, adding that officers had been suspended and a new investigation committee had been formed.

The suspect was arrested on May 12 in a targeted operation on intelligence input. A cocaine dealer was also arrested in the same operation, and a 9mm pistol was recovered.

Officials said she was produced before a court the same day, which granted physical remand. They also confirmed that cases are registered against her in Sindh, while she has also faced proceedings in other provinces.

Meanwhile, Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon said the drug issue was a global problem and should not be politicised.

“We all have a responsibility to clean our homes of drugs,” he said while speaking in the Sindh Assembly. He said that the opposition should avoid “point-scoring” on the matter and praising law enforcement agencies for their action.

He said multiple groups across different sectors were involved in narcotics networks and warned that anyone found involved would not be spared.