Peshawar police, during an operation in Gulbahar, rescued three Nigerian nationals and a man from Khyber district and arrested three suspects.

According to police, the suspects had held the victims in illegal confinement and demanded $25,000 for their release. The arrested suspects are reportedly involved in the international smuggling of ice (crystal methamphetamine) and other drugs.

SHO Asghar Khan said that acting on a tip-off, police raided a house in Gulbahar No. 24, where they rescued three Nigerian nationals — Austin, son of Nwan Kwaab, his 12-year-old son Michael, his 14-year-old son Jantan — and Khyber resident Nusrat Khan.

During the operation, police arrested Asif Mahmood, a resident of Shaheen Bazaar, Umar Farooq, a resident of Gulbahar No. 1, and Usman Ghani.

According to police, during interrogation, Austin said the suspects had brought him and his two minor sons from Lahore to Peshawar about two weeks ago on the pretext of inviting them for a meal. They then confined them in the house and repeatedly demanded $25,000 for their release.

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Nusrat Khan, one of those rescued, told police that through a relative, he had agreed to purchase 600 grams of ice from a suspect named Junaid for Rs3.25 million. Junaid allegedly handed over the drugs in Qatar and received Rs2 million, while Rs1.25 million remained outstanding.

Police said the suspects held Nusrat Khan hostage as collateral from August 13 to recover the outstanding amount and also subjected him to torture.

Police said a Kalashnikov, two pistols, 1,500 grams of suspected substance packed in six packets, and a packing machine were recovered from the arrested suspects.

A case has been registered against the suspects under kidnapping and other relevant sections, while investigations are underway to identify other possible members of the group and determine the suspects’ previous criminal activities.