How Did Afghan Authorities Arrest 31 Smugglers and Seize 258 Kg of Drugs?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Kabul, Dec 11 (NationPress) The Afghan counter-narcotics police have apprehended 31 alleged drug traffickers and confiscated 258 kg of illegal drugs in operations conducted across various provinces, according to separate reports from the Ministry of Interior Affairs on Thursday.
The confiscated drugs comprised 194 kg of opium, 35 kg of hashish, and 29 kg of methamphetamine. These operations took place in the western province of Herat, as well as in the northern provinces of Kunduz and Baghlan, where four individuals were arrested, as reported by Xinhua News Agency.
In a separate series of counter-narcotics operations in the capital, Kabul, police detained 27 suspects linked to the sale, purchase, and trafficking of illegal drugs.
The Afghan government has imposed a ban on poppy cultivation, drug production, and trafficking, pledging to continue its efforts until the nation, which was once a major global source of opium, is drug-free.
On Wednesday, provincial police spokesperson Ehsanullah Kamgar announced the arrest of a suspect involved in drug trafficking, with 16 kg of opium seized in Badakhshan province.
This arrest occurred during a raid in the Kishim district, where authorities found the individual in possession of the drugs and have since initiated further investigation.
On November 30, local authorities reported the seizure of illegal drugs in Nimroz province, where police apprehended a suspect attempting to smuggle 3 kg of methamphetamine out of the area.
The Afghan government, which outlawed the cultivation of illegal crops such as poppy and hashish in 2022, has pledged to persist in the battle against drugs, including their production, processing, and trafficking, until the country is liberated from the drug crisis.
On November 16, the Ministry of Interior Affairs revealed that Afghan counter-narcotics police had confiscated a range of illegal drugs, including crystal meth, and arrested 21 suspected traffickers in various operations across multiple provinces.
The haul included 86 kg of raw hashish, 5 kg of crystal meth, a collection of methamphetamine, stimulant tablets, and other narcotics.
These drugs were discovered during routine police operations, according to the ministry's statement.
A total of 21 individuals were taken into custody in connection with these cases, reaffirming the police's determination to prevent anyone from producing, purchasing, or trafficking illegal drugs in the country.