Kabul, Aug 5 (IANS) Afghan police have destroyed more than 9.4 tonnes of narcotics seized during anti-drug operations over the past five months in southern Afghanistan’s Zabul province, a provincial police spokesman said on Wednesday.
Provincial police spokesman Zabihullah Jawhar said a total of 9,476 kg of narcotics were confiscated during separate operations carried out by the counter-narcotics department in coordination with police units in the province, Xinhua News Agency reported.
Several suspects were also detained in connection with the seizures. The suspects have been referred to judicial authorities for further legal proceedings.
Afghan authorities have continued counter-narcotics operations across the country as part of efforts to combat drug production and trafficking.
On July 30, police set on fire more than 14 tonnes of illegal substances, including illicit drugs and the objects used in manufacturing illegal drugs, in central Afghanistan’s Daykundi province, provincial police spokesman Ghulam Ali Jawed said.
The contraband, which included opium, methamphetamine, heroin, hashish, cannabis, stimulant tablets and chemical substances including acid used in manufacturing illegal drugs, was burned publicly in a ceremony attended by local government officials, the official asserted.
Jawed also said that police had collected the contraband over the past year, and warned that police would take stern action against anyone who produces illegal drugs or smuggles them.
On July 28, local authorities said Afghan police seized 25 kilograms of opium and detained eight suspected drug traffickers and smugglers during separate counter-narcotics operations in eastern Afghanistan’s Paktika and Logar provinces.
Police arrested six suspected drug traffickers in Paktika province after recovering 25 kg of opium during a series of operations, the provincial police office said in a statement.
In a separate operation in neighbouring Logar province, security forces detained two suspected smugglers and confiscated a large quantity of hashish and narcotic tablets, according to local security officials.
On July 26, Afghanistan’s Ministry of Interior Affairs said that Afghan counter-narcotics police have seized 42 kg of methamphetamine during an intelligence-led operation in northern Faryab province.
The drugs, which originated in western Herat province, were discovered concealed inside a vehicle and were being trafficked toward Balkh province when they were intercepted, according to a ministry statement.
One suspect was arrested in connection with the seizure and is currently under investigation, with authorities expected to refer the case to judicial officials.
–IANS
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