LAHORE: Sialkot police busted a gang which came up with a unique way of supplying narcoticsto the `consumers`through a call centre operated from Islamabad.

It had engaged 20 policemen of Sialkotdistrict for protection of drug trafficking across the city.

An official, privy to the information, said the network came to the limelight when the police intercepted the `delivery boys` supplying illegal drugs to the consumers. They told the police they picked up the `pack` following a call booked by an Islamabad-based call centre.

Sialkot District Police Officer Faisal Shehzad expanded the investigation by involving a sensitive agency. During the joint inquiry, the Sialkot police reached Islamabad, traced the call centre and arrested its owner, Asad Ali, a resident ofSialkot, besides some young call centre operators.

The call centre was used to attend the calls made from the residents of Sialkot only.

During the interrogation, Asad, the ringleader of the gang, told the police that he had engaged 20 police officials, serving across Sialkot, for the protection of drug traffickers. These guilty police officials were getting money `against their services`.

A forensic analysis of Asad`s phone confirmed these police officers were in contact with the gang.

The official source said that the policerecovered 1,200 gram drugs from the custody of Asad and lodged a case against him with the Saddar Police Station.

The DPO formed a four-member inquiry committee, headed by Investigation SP Usman Munir Saifi, to define the role of 28 officers who were allegedly `hired` by the drug gang. The investigation report ((a copy is available withDawn) confirmed that 20 of them were involved in protecting the drug trafficking network.

The DPO awarded major punishments, including dismissal, to 16 of these 20 police officers and imposed minor penalties on four others.