Wednesday November 21, 2018
Kabul (BNA) Counter Narcotics Minister says a survey conducted in 1397 shows 20% decrease in poppy cultivation than the previous year.
According BNA report Salamat Azimi the counter narcotics’ minister and General Abdul Jalil Bakhtiyar the counter narcotic deputy minister of interior holding a news conference with the head of UN office for crimes claimed that a survey conducted by the ministry of counter narcotics and the other relevant organs shows a remarkable decrease in poppy cultivation during the current year than the previous year. He called the amendment of counter narcotic law, efforts, widespread coordination among relevant security organs, alternative accommodation programs and public awareness, the reasons behind the decrease. The minister also calling narcotics as an international challenge said for launching a successful campaign against this evil phenomenon, international cooperation has needed.
In this news conference Abdul Jalil Bakhtyar deputy counter narcotic minister of Interior ministry said his office based on national strategy and practical programs for counter narcotics campaign has increased its achievement in national level.
He added, they have launched 3074 counter narcotic operations during the current year as a result of which 3500 suspects including five well-known international traffickers, seven foreign nationals, 70 women and 11 children have been arrested.
The deputy minister claimed in 1396, 32800 hectares of land had been cultivated poppy but the poppy cultivated area in 1397 was 26300 hectares.
According the minister of counter narcotics added in 1397, 9 % of poppy have been cultivated in east, south and south east part of the country and claimed that 10 provinces across the country were free of poppy. He added Takhar was free of poppy but at the end of that year restarted poppy cultivation.
Counter narcotics minister said in 1396, more than one thousand metric ton opium produced, the figure was 400 metric- tons in 1397 which also shows a decrease.
According to the minister in 1397, 466 hectares poppy cultivated land destroyed and they also damaged 30 opium processing factories and their 8 storehouses.
According Mr. Bakhtyary in operations launched in Kabul city 1430 suspects to narcotics business arrested and a vehicle and 92 weapons and 20 tons of narcotics confiscated.
He claimed, at the air ports across the country 430 drug traffickers have been arrested and 75kg narcotics and346000 $ in cash confiscated.
The head of UN office for narcotics related crimes at the news conference said the presented reports clearly indicate that a serious counter narcotics campaign is underway that has lowered the narcotic prices in the market.
He added one of the reasons that decreased poppy cultivation is the low cost of narcotics in the market.
According to him there is almost 94 dollars decrease in the cost of every kg of opium. He ranked Helmand first among poppy cultivating provinces and then named Kandahar, Urozgan and Nangarhar provinces.
Abdul Khalil Minawi
