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LAHORE: The Faisalabad City police are going to launch a major operation against drug cartels after the arrest of 80 women and 20 male traffickers who were supplying narcotics to university and college students.

Police reports have revealed that the women traffickers dominate the city as they are perceived as less suspicious than men. During interrogation, the suspects revealed that they were supplying drugs through several ‘supplier networks’ to education institutions. The drugs are being routed through district Jhang from Sindh and KP and some groups are working under political backing. The use of internet and social media has become popular for trafficking synthetic drugs.

An official said the anti-narcotics cells of the Faisalabad City police arrested 80 women smugglers during the last five months and a majority of them were operating in urban hubs, exclusively targeting students and children of the elite for supply of ice and cocaine. Women traffickers were used to supply drugs in education institutions and hostels.

During the last five months, police lodged 4,700 FIRs against the drug suppliers. Ninety percent cases were registered under section 9(c) (non-bailable offence) of the Control of Narcotic Substances Act (CNSA).