Report in TOLOnews Online, Nov 12, 2023
Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev expressed satisfaction over counter-narcotics in Afghanistan, saying that the “Taliban” has contributed more to the fight against drugs in Afghanistan in the past year than a two-decade effort by a coalition led by the United States.
He said that the US-led coalition forces were interested in “exporting heroin” to Russia and other countries.
“In less than a year, the Taliban, no matter how we may feel about it, did what the US-led NATO coalition, which was allegedly fighting terrorism in the country, failed to do over a span of 20 years. That’s what happens when those who were, in fact, interested in exporting heroin to Russia and other countries leave the region,” Medvedev said as quoted by TASS citing his Telegram channel.
Former Deputy Minister of Counter Narcotics, Ibrahim Azhar, said that in this regard: “There are major livelihood- alternative programs which can be replaced with the help of some world countries. The process of cultivation and production of narcotics will be eliminated.”
According to counter-narcotics, around 10,500 drug dealers have been arrested in various operations within the last year.
Another official of the counter-narcotics of the Interior Ministry, Haseeebullah Ahmadi, said that the cultivation and production of narcotics have dropped to nearly zero.
“Around 10,500 major and small drug dealers have been arrested and sent to sharia courts. Also, around 4,500 tons of drugs have been seized,” he said.
This comes as some of the farmers called on the relevant organizations to provide them with reformed seeds.
“We have not cultivated hashish and poppy and we in return want reformed seeds and water systems. We are poor farmers, we want them to help us,” said Abdul Malik, a farmer.
“We want reformed seeds and fertilizers,” said Gulbuddin, a farmer.
The officials within the counter-narcotics department of the Interior Ministry said that 14,000 hectares of land have been cleared of narcotics.
https://tolonews.com/afghanistan-186000
