Afghan Anti-Narcotics Police Arrest 60 in Major Drug Bust, Seize 29 Kilograms of Narcotics

Kabul, September 20 (Daily Kiran) : In a significant operation against drug trafficking, Afghanistan's anti-narcotics police apprehended 60 individuals across 12 provinces. The crackdown resulted in the seizure of 29 kilograms of illegal narcotics, as reported by the Ministry of Interior on Sunday. The arrests took place in various provinces, including Nimroz, Balkh, Nangarhar, Kapisa, Laghman, Kunduz, Samangan, Parwan, Badakhshan, Khost, Panjshir, and Farah.The ministry did not disclose the specific types of drugs confiscated or the identities of those arrested. Afghan officials are intensifying efforts to combat the illegal drug trade nationwide. This includes actions against traffickers, cultivators of narcotic crops, and drug manufacturing networks, aiming to disrupt the country's illicit drug economy. Earlier on the same day, police in southern Urozgan province dismantled a clandestine drug lab, seizing 48 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine.Following a tip-off, police raided the site in the province's outskirts, destroying the lab and recovering a substantial stash of narcotics. In separate operations, the anti-narcotics unit also confiscated 23,000 kilograms of precursor materials used in drug production from southern Helmand and eastern Ghazni provinces. The ministry did not specify whether any additional arrests were made during these raids but reiterated its zero-tolerance policy towards illegal drug production, trafficking, or trade.On August 27, Afghan police had previously destroyed over 2.5 tons of illegal narcotics in northern Takhar province, including 2,000 kilograms of opium, 335 kilograms of hashish, and more than 200 kilograms of methamphetamine. Authorities warned that strict actions would be taken against anyone involved in drug production or trafficking in the region. Tackling the drug crisis remains a top priority for Afghan authorities as they seek to curb the influence of narcotics on society.