UNODC reaffirms its commitment to support the Anti Narcotics Force in its fight against the drug trafficking domestically and through intelligence-led international operations 

 

United Nations - Vienna, 11 March 2015 - A special event entitled "Intelligence-led International Operations" was jointly hosted by the Government of Pakistan and the UNODC Country Office Pakistan, in the margins of the 58 th session of the Commission on Narcotics Drugs.

Mr. Ghalib Ali Bandesha - Secretary Narcotics Control Division, Ministry of Interior and Narcotics Control, Government of Pakistan, Mr. Jean-Luc Lemahieu - Director Division for Policy Analysis UNODC Headquarters Vienna, Mr. Cesar Guedes - Representative UNODC Country Office Pakistan, Major General Khawar Hanif - Director General of the Anti Narcotics Force (ANF), Government of Pakistan and other high level delegates were also present at the occasion. Several country delegates and international organizations participating in the CND attended the event.  

While making his welcome address, Mr. Jean-Luc Lemahieu thanked the Government of Pakistan for maintaining close collaboration with UNODC on all matters of mutual interest. He stressed the importance of raising Pakistan's operational capacity-building for effectively addressing the challenge of drug trafficking emanating from the region. Major General Khawar Hanif thanked the participants and emphasized the operational achievements by the ANF and its strong commitment to maintain close relationship with international partners such as UNODC.

Mr. Cesar Guedes while making his opening presentation highlighted close partnership between UNODC and Government of Pakistan, "UNODC's capacity building to the ANF is a part of its Country Programme (2010-2015), and is expected to have a greater impact in Pakistan and the wider region, through fostering national and international interagency cooperation, made possible due to our combined strategy to fight drug trafficking and other forms of transnational organized crimes in the region", added Mr. Guedes.

The special event highlighted the ongoing partnership between UNODC and the Government of Pakistan, while underlining the evolution of a combined counter-narcotics strategy based on international best practices. "The ANF recognizes the support rendered by UNODC and other international partners. Our record drug seizures during 2014 are directly attributed to our commitment and resolve to fight the drug menace, as well investing in the institutional strengthening of the Anti Narcotics Force" said Major General Khwar Hanif.

The ANF seized 259 tons of narcotics during 2014, which has been a record achievement since its inception. The seized drugs and precursors were worth about USD 1.2 billion in the international market. The country delegates and representatives of various international organizations attending the special event commended the joint efforts undertaken by UNODC and ANF, towards tackling this problem affecting the region around Pakistan, and the world at large.