QUETTA: Police in Balochistan have arrested eight suspected highway robbers during a coordinated crackdown against criminal gangs targeting passengers and vehicles along the busy Quetta–Sukkur highway, officials confirmed on Monday.
The joint operation was launched in Nasirabad and Kachhi districts following a rise in highway robberies and vehicle snatching incidents. Balochistan Inspector General of Police (IGP) Muhammad Tahir directed the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Nasirabad Range to take immediate action against the organized gangs operating in the region.
Acting on intelligence reports, senior officers including the SSPs of Nasirabad and Kachhi led multiple raids with heavy police contingents. Authorities targeted several hideouts in villages suspected of sheltering members of the criminal network.
Police said the armed suspects attempted to flee during the operation, but eight individuals were successfully apprehended and taken into custody for interrogation.
According to officials, the arrested suspects were involved in looting passenger buses and other vehicles traveling along the Quetta–Sukkur highway — a key route linking several districts of Balochistan and serving as a vital corridor for trade and travel.
“The hideouts of the dacoits were destroyed and set on fire in the area,” said the Nasirabad SSP, adding that the action is part of a broader campaign to eliminate criminal gangs across the province.
Authorities have vowed to continue targeted police operations until the network of highway robbers is completely dismantled. Local residents have welcomed the arrests, saying insecurity on the highway had been a long-standing concern.
Crime Trends Show Mixed Picture
Meanwhile, official data released by Quetta Police highlights shifting crime trends in the provincial capital during 2025–26.
While street crime remains a challenge, law enforcement agencies reported significant success against organized crime, illegal weapons, and narcotics.
Robbery cases in Quetta totaled 153, with incidents peaking at 20 cases in June 2025 before dropping sharply to just one case in January 2026. Police arrested 67 suspects in connection with these robberies and recovered stolen property in 43 percent of the cases.
The report also revealed that police dismantled 125 criminal gangs, arresting 283 gang members. The highest number of gang busts was recorded in January 2025, when 23 gangs were taken down in a single month.
Officials say sustained intelligence-based operations are helping curb organized crime and improve public safety across Balochistan.
