Over 100 drug addicts held in Afghanistan's Daykundi, sent for rehab
Synopsis
Afghan authorities rounded up over 100 drug-dependent people in Daykundi in a single operation — even as police separately seized 241 kg of narcotics in Badakhshan and a combined haul of opium and methamphetamine in Nimroz. The simultaneous enforcement and rehabilitation push across three provinces reveals the scale of Afghanistan's drug crisis and the government's intensifying effort to contain it.
Key Takeaways
Afghan police rounded up more than 100 drug-dependent individuals in Daykundi province on 26 July and sent them to a rehabilitation centre.
78 people from earlier Daykundi rehabilitation programmes have already recovered and rejoined their families.
Police seized 241 kg of illicit drugs and arrested nine suspects in two operations in Badakhshan province .
Counter-narcotics operations in Nimroz province yielded 84 kg of opium , 130 kg of methamphetamine , and over 200 kg of heroin-manufacturing materials; seven arrested .
Afghan authorities say thousands of addicts, including women and children, have been rehabilitated over the past five years .
Afghan police have rounded up more than 100 drug-dependent individuals in Daykundi province, central Afghanistan, and transferred them to a rehabilitation centre, according to a statement from the Ministry of Interior Affairs issued on Sunday, 26 July. The operation is part of a sustained nationwide campaign by Afghan authorities to eliminate drug addiction and dismantle trafficking networks across the country.
Rehabilitation Progress in Daykundi
The Interior Ministry statement noted that 78 individuals who had previously been admitted to rehabilitation programmes in Daykundi have already recovered and been reunited with their families. Authorities reaffirmed that the government would spare no effort in providing medical treatment to addicts while simultaneously pursuing enforcement action against illegal drug production and trafficking.
Over the past nearly five years, thousands of drug-dependent Afghans — including women and children — have reportedly been rehabilitated and reintegrated into society, according to officials. Afghanistan, once among the world's largest poppy-cultivating nations, has positioned the eradication of the drug menace as a central policy priority.
Badakhshan Seizure: 241 kg of Drugs, Nine Arrested
Separately, Afghan police seized 241 kilograms of illicit drugs and arrested nine suspects during two operations in northeastern Badakhshan province last week. According to official media, special police forces conducted raids in the Pul-e Begum and Tashkan areas, recovering narcotics from a vehicle and a residential house. All nine individuals taken into custody remain under investigation, authorities said.
Nimroz Operations Yield Opium, Meth Haul
On 16 July, counter-narcotics police commander in Nimroz province, Mawlawi Esmatullah Ahmad, disclosed that a series of operations in western Afghanistan had uncovered hundreds of kilograms of contraband over the preceding week. The seized material included 84 kg of opium, 130 kg of methamphetamine, and more than 200 kg of other materials used in the manufacture of opium and heroin. Seven individuals were arrested on charges of drug smuggling in connection with the Nimroz operations.
Broader Anti-Drug Push
The back-to-back operations across Daykundi, Badakhshan, and Nimroz signal a coordinated enforcement posture by Afghan authorities, who have repeatedly stated their commitment to combating drug trafficking and related criminal activity across all provinces. This comes amid international scrutiny over Afghanistan's role in global narcotics supply chains, even as officials claim significant reductions in poppy cultivation in recent years. Whether the rehabilitation and enforcement gains are sustainable at scale remains a key question for public health and security observers tracking the country.
Point of View
Evidence-based rehabilitation; independent verification of recovery outcomes is absent. The methamphetamine seizure in Nimroz is particularly notable: meth has been a growing share of Afghanistan's drug economy, complicating the narrative that poppy eradication alone resolves the crisis. Without transparent data on relapse rates and long-term reintegration, these operations risk being enforcement optics rather than a structural solution to addiction.
NationPress
26 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How many drug addicts were rounded up in Daykundi, Afghanistan?
Afghan police rounded up more than 100 drug-dependent individuals in Daykundi province, central Afghanistan, and transferred them to a rehabilitation centre, according to a Ministry of Interior Affairs statement issued on 26 July.
What drugs were seized in Badakhshan province?
Police seized 241 kilograms of illicit drugs during two separate operations in Badakhshan's Pul-e Begum and Tashkan areas. Nine suspects were arrested and remain under investigation.
What was recovered in the Nimroz counter-narcotics operations?
Counter-narcotics police in Nimroz province recovered 84 kg of opium, 130 kg of methamphetamine, and more than 200 kg of materials used to manufacture opium and heroin. Seven individuals were arrested on drug smuggling charges.
How many Afghans have been rehabilitated over the past five years?
According to Afghan authorities, thousands of drug-dependent Afghans — including women and children — have been rehabilitated and reintegrated into society over the past nearly five years, though independent verification of these figures is not available.
Why is Afghanistan's drug crackdown significant?
Afghanistan was historically one of the world's largest poppy-cultivating nations. The ongoing enforcement and rehabilitation campaigns are central to the current government's stated goal of making the country free of the drug menace, and are being closely watched by international observers concerned about global narcotics supply chains.
