Twenty Nigerians have been arrested in Pakistan over alleged involvement in an international drug trafficking network operating in Islamabad and Rawalpindi, with 4.432 kilogrammes of suspected narcotics recovered during coordinated operations.

The arrests were announced in a statement by the Associated Press of Pakistan on Wednesday, citing the country’s Anti-Narcotics Force.

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The agency said it carried out intelligence-led operations at several locations across the two cities, leading to the arrest of the Nigerian nationals and the recovery of different controlled substances.

“Acting on credible intelligence, the ANF conducted coordinated intelligence-based operations at various locations across the twin cities, resulting in the arrest of 20 Nigerian nationals allegedly involved in drug trafficking and recovered 4.432 Kgs of narcotics,” the statement said.

The recovered substances comprised 1.682 kilogrammes of cocaine, two kilogrammes of methamphetamine, commonly known as Ice, and 750 grammes of cannabis.

According to the ANF, intelligence reports linked the suspects to an organised network allegedly involved in the smuggling, distribution and sale of cocaine, methamphetamine and cannabis.

The agency said the network was suspected of supplying drugs to young people, particularly students in educational institutions across Islamabad and Rawalpindi.

The ANF also disclosed that preliminary investigations showed that two of the arrested Nigerians were already on bail in connection with a previous narcotics-related case.

“Preliminary investigations have further revealed that two of the arrested Nigerian Nationals were already on bail in a previous narcotics-related case,” the statement added.

The agency said it had monitored the suspected network through sustained intelligence gathering and surveillance before carrying out the operations.

It described the arrests as a significant development in its nationwide campaign against drug trafficking.

The arrests come days after Indian authorities detained four Nigerians and a Thai national in separate drug raids in Haryana State.

The operations, conducted by the Gurgaon and Faridabad units of the Haryana State Narcotics Control Bureau in October, reportedly led to the recovery of 54.76 grammes of MDMA and 8.90 grammes of cocaine.

In August, four other Nigerians were arrested in India over alleged drug trafficking in Delhi, Gurugram and Khanpur.

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Three Nigerians were also among four suspects arrested in July over alleged drug peddling in the country, with authorities recovering more than 10 kilogrammes of MDMA crystals and hydroponic cannabis during the operation.