Narcotics seized, heroin labs destroyed in Badakhshan

FAIZABAD/KHOST CITY: The Quick Action Forces Unit claimed destroying seven heroin manufacturing laboratories in Argo district of the northeastern Badakhshan province.

Badakhshan police chief Colonel Shah Jehan Noori told Pajhwok Afghan News a total of seven factories had been wiped out in Aab Barek, Dah Dara, Hazar Mashi, Tajikha, Argital and Batwal villages of the Argo district over three days.

Besides, 21 kilograms of opium and 4 kilograms of heroin were also recovered during the crack down. The outlaws keeping the narcotics in their possession managed to flee, added the police chief.

Asking for modern arsenal and other sophisticated techniques for the Badakhshan police to fight the criminals, Noori said they had performed well despite poorly equipped.

Earlier, police had captured about 7,000 kilograms of narcotics besides arresting five people in Argo and Draim districts in March last.

Sharing a vast tract with Pakistan and Tajikistan, Badakhshan officials are faced with difficulties in reigning in the drug-pushers in parts of the province.

Meanwhile, Khost security officials seized 22 kilograms of heroin and 534 kilograms of hashish from Karvan Sara area in Khost City on Tuesday.

Colonel Yaqoob, chief of crime branch, told Pajhwok Afghan News the drugs were hidden in a bricks-laden truck heading towards the city. The smugglers managed to run away.

In the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif, 320 cartons full of alcohol bottles were eliminated on Tuesday.

Gen Nasiruddin Hamdard, a senior police officer, said anti-narcotics officials had confiscated the alcohol destined for Kabul. He said police had arrested a smuggler who was under detention.

Sale and use of alcohol is banned, but many people in this northern city, are still running the business flouting the law.

In February last, 3740 bottles of wine were seized while on way from Mazar-i-Sharif to Shiberghan city.