Over 12 Tonnes of Narcotics Burned by Taliban Authorities in Helmand
The Taliban’s Ministry of Interior has announced the incineration of 12,272 kilograms of confiscated narcotics in Helmand province, carried out in the presence of an official delegation. According to the ministry, the drugs had been collected earlier this year (1404 Hijri Solar calendar) by the counter-narcotics police from various districts and the provincial center.
The destroyed substances included various types of narcotics and illegal items such as opium, methamphetamine, hashish, heroin, psychotropic pills, alcoholic beverages, and other drugs. Taliban officials stated that 217 individuals were arrested in connection with these cases.
Helmand, a southern province in Afghanistan, has long been a major hub for the cultivation and production of narcotics in the country. While the Taliban claim to have taken strict measures to combat drug production and trafficking, numerous reports indicate that poppy cultivation and the production and smuggling of drugs have expanded significantly since their return to power.
Critics argue that despite public displays such as the burning of seized narcotics, the Taliban are heavily involved in the drug trade both domestically and internationally. They suggest that the Taliban’s anti-narcotics efforts serve more as propaganda than as effective action. The lack of transparency in the seizure and destruction processes, and the absence of independent media or institutional oversight, have further fueled concerns.
