Asia-Pacific

Police destroy 4 heroin labs, seize contraband in Afghanistan

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-03-06 20:58

KABUL - Afghan police during series of operations in west Afghanistan discovered and destroyed heroin labs and drugs, a press release of Interior Ministry said Saturday.

In the first crackdown against illicit drug, police discovered four heroin labs in Bagwah district of Farah province and destroyed them.

During the operation, more than 7 tons opium and other materials used in manufacturing heroin was also sized and smashed, the press release added.

Interior Ministry stressed that police raided a house in Herat city the capital of Herat province on the same day Thursday and discovered 162 kg heroin and arrested seven persons.

The Afghan government has taken bold step in war on drug as more than 40 tons of opium poppy has been destroyed over the past one week.

According to reports, the war-torn country produces and supplies over 90 percent of the raw material used in manufacturing heroin to the world.

Meantime, the Afghan government claimed that 20 out of Afghanistan's 34 provinces are poppy-free and the target to control poppy cultivation will be achieved within the next three to five years.