Over 100 arrested for poppy cultivation in Badakhshan
Local officials in Badakhshan province have announced the arrest of over 100 individuals connected to opium poppy cultivation in several districts of the province.
Shafiqullah Hafizi, the head of the anti-narcotics division reported on Sunday, December 1 that these individuals were arrested during a large-scale anti-narcotics operation in the districts of Argo, Daraym, Yaftal Payan, Jurm, Shuhada, and Baharak in Badakhshan.
During the operation, authorities seized 75 mobile phones from the arrested individuals. The suspects have been referred to the provincial primary court for legal prosecution.
Local authorities in Badakhshan have stated that these individuals will face trial for their involvement in drug-related activities.
The Taliban regime banned opium cultivation in the spring of 2022, under the directive of the Taliban’s leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada.
Despite the government’s stance, reports from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) indicated a 30% increase in opium production in Afghanistan in 2024 compared to the previous year.
According to the UNODC, 433 tons of opium have been produced in Afghanistan this year.
While the Taliban has consistently denied these reports of increased drug production, international agencies continue to express concerns about the rise in narcotics production in the country.
The increase in drug cultivation despite official prohibitions and the government’s ongoing crackdown underscores the challenges in combating narcotics trade in Afghanistan.
Experts suggest that a more gradual approach to this ban, along with comprehensive economic support to address the root causes of the issue, is necessary.
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