7 June 2011 – Representatives from four countries – China, France, Russia and Tajikistan - joined Afghan and UN officials in Faizabad district, Badakhshan, on Tuesday for a three-day visit to the “frontlines” of the drug trade.

“Drug trade is a regional and international problem. We need the international community’s support and regional cooperation to fight it,” said the Deputy of the Counter-Narcotics Department in the Ministry of Interior, Baz Mohammad Ahmadi.

Calling Badakhshan and Nimrooz the “frontlines” of drug and poppy cultivation, Ahmadi said the visit is to show the fight on drugs and the poppy cultivation in the province.

“People were concerned about increased poppy cultivation this year, but fortunately there was a ten percent decrease at the country level. It shows the commitment of the Government and the international community to
fighting drugs,” said Ahmadi, citing the United Nations Office on Drug and Crime (UNODC) Opium Winter Rapid Assessment Survey released in April.

As part of the Faizabad visit, officials burned more than seven metric tons of drugs gathered in Badakhshan province over the past year.

“Seizing and burning these collected drugs show the commitment of the Government and the increasing and serious struggle in the fight against drugs,” said Jean-Luc Lemahieu, UNODC representative in Afghanistan.

In addition, Badakhshan Provincial Governor Shah Wali Aded, credits alternative livelihoods, distribution of certified seed and strengthened capcity building among national police for the increased seizures.

National police destroyed around 250 hectare poppy field so far this year, according to Governor Aded.

By UNAMA Kunduz