Abdul Rahman Munir, the Taliban's Deputy Minister for Counter-Narcotics, announced that 10,065 people have been arrested in Afghanistan this year in connection with drug-related crimes. This statistic was presented at a conference titled "The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan's Fight Against Drugs: Realities and Achievements."
Speaking on Tuesday (October 27) at the conference attended by foreign representatives in Kabul, Mr. Munir said that the Taliban government has conducted 25,116 counter-narcotics operations this year. According to him, these operations led to the arrests.
He added that during this period, 26,500 hectares of poppy and cannabis cultivation have been destroyed. Additionally, 301 drug processing labs, two chemical tablet (Tablet K) production factories, and 15 alcohol production factories were discovered and dismantled.
The Taliban official, emphasizing his government's achievements in the fight against drugs, called for international support to provide alternative livelihoods for farmers. He stated that to sustainably prevent drug cultivation, support for legal agricultural products is essential.
After regaining control of Afghanistan in August 2021, Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada issued a decree banning the cultivation, production, and trafficking of all narcotics. The Taliban government has consistently claimed to have reduced poppy cultivation to zero.
However, reports from the United Nations paint a different picture. These reports indicate that despite a reduction in poppy cultivation, it has not been completely eliminated and continues in some areas. Furthermore, the UN has expressed concern over a significant increase in the production of synthetic drugs, such as methamphetamine, in Afghanistan.
Source: Taliban Ministry of Interior
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