Taliban Says It Seized 116kg of Narcotics in Takhar

The Taliban’s Interior Ministry says its anti-narcotics forces have seized 116 kilograms of narcotics in Takhar province. According to the ministry, two people were also arrested in connection with the case.

In a statement on Tuesday, September 3, the ministry said the drugs were concealed in a vehicle. The Taliban said the detained individuals had planned to transport the shipment to an undisclosed location.

The incident comes as the Taliban, after returning to power, banned poppy cultivation and has claimed a sharp decline in opium production in Afghanistan. However, reports from international organisations show that drug trafficking, including heroin and synthetic drugs, continues along the country’s northern and eastern routes.

In recent months, the Taliban has repeatedly reported seizures of narcotics in Takhar and other northern provinces, describing them as evidence of its seriousness in combating trafficking. Despite this, experts warn that trafficking networks remain active and economic pressure on farmers could help sustain the illicit trade.

Takhar province, because of its border with Tajikistan, is considered one of the well-known drug trafficking routes to Central Asia.