HELMAND - The International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking was celebrated in Lashkar Gah of Helmand province on Tuesday. Helmand Governor Mohammad Gulab Mangal, provincial director for anti-narcotics department Seed Ahmad Wror, director for culture and information department Alishah Mazloomyar, members of the Provincial Council, line ministers for Helmand, tribal leaders, members of the provincial reform Shura, religious scholars and women participated in a celebration ceremony.

The governor said in the ceremony: “The poppy cultivation has decreased more than the past years and farmers should cultivate legal seeds instead of the poppy in their lands.”

He asked the farmers to once again make Helmand province the store of wheat as it was in the past.

The governor added: “Thirteen policemen have been killed and 40 others were injured during the poppy eradication campaign in the province.”

The International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking is celebrated throughout the world on 26 June.

Source: Office of the Provincial Governor of Helmand