Drug dealers go online after Islamabad police crackdown

ISLAMABAD: Drug dealers in the federal capital have shifted their illegal business online amid a crackdown by the police.

Police officials told Dawn that drug dealers had also enlisted beggars as peddlers to sell drugs in public places, besides offering home delivery.

During the current year from January 1 to July 22, the capital police arrested 1,002 drug peddlers and registered 966 cases. Besides, the police also recovered 168,337 grams charas, 102,183 grams heroin, 110,110 grams ice, 11 pills and 9,901 wine bottles.

Out of the total, the police arrested 102 suspects from around educational institutes and registered 98 cases against drug peddlers around the institutes. The police recovered 20,240 grams charas, 12,164 grams heroin, 18,984 grams ice, four pills and 20 wine bottles from suspects operating around the educational institutes.

Since January, over 1,000 peddlers arrested, 102 from outside educational institutions, say officials

They said the drug dealers were using messaging apps to sell narcotics in the capital. Such online services through apps are mostly given at educational institutes, mostly universities.

Besides, the online drug delivery is also given at commercial and residential areas in posh sectors. These drugs are also delivered at parties and music concerts, targeting the younger users.

After beggars were recruited for peddling, they were used to deliver drugs at designated spots to the buyers. The beggars were used after professional peddlers were either identified or arrested.

The officials further said that the police made a strategy to counter the drug delivery at educational institutes. In this regard, the administrations of universities were approached for assistance and cooperation.

It was decided to physically check delivery boys coming to educational institutions. Besides, cameras of Safe City Islamabad Authority were also installed around the educational institutes.

The police nominated focal persons and on their request the educational institutes did the same.

The officials further said the police usually caught peddlers and middle-man involved in the business from inside the city.

They alleged that drugs were smuggled to Islamabad from KP using different modes of transportation. Most of the drugs were brought concealed in goods vehicles.

The middlemen and others operate from the capital’s outskirts, including Tarnol, and Bhara Kahu. The Doray village has been infamous for being a drug hub in the capital for decades, they added.

The officials said both organic and synthetic drugs were available in the capital. They said the police were dealing with peddlers of the two types of drugs under the same law. He added that synthetic drugs were more harmful and there should be severe punishment for those involved in their supply.

The price of one kg charas is Rs50,000, opium Rs90,000, heroin Rs70,000, Ice Rs1 million, and cocaine Rs1.2 million. The price of one pill (ecstasy) is Rs1,000.

When contacted, a spokesman for the police confirmed to Dawn that after a crackdown drug dealers were using messaging apps and beggars to continue their illegal business.

Published in Dawn, July 24th, 2026 ...