Curbing drug trade: Afghan forces claim torching 1.3 tonnes of narcotics

KANDAHAR: Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) destroyed more than 1,300 kilogrammes of marijuana during a clearing operation Feb 16 in Kandahar province’s Zharay district. Nato said in a release that members of the Afghan National Army, Afghan Uniformed Police, and National Interdiction Unit found about 900 kilogrammes of the drug as hashish, a resin product of marijuana, and about 400 kilogrammes of its seed near the Tieranon village. “The operation was a huge success,” said ANA 1st Lt Naeen Khan, executive officer of Company A, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Brigade, 205th Corps. “It sends a message to the people that our security forces are working hard to establish peace by accomplishing missions like this.” By finding large drugs caches, ANSF aims to defund militant networks, which use drugs as a primary means of funding, said Khan. “Civilians must not grow or use drugs because it helps the Taliban both with money, to fund their attacks, and manipulates the people,” he said. “If the people are always influenced by drugs, they cannot think straight and make good decisions,” said Khan. ANSF also detained two suspected insurgents found near the drugs. The suspects are in custody of Afghan officials.