PUL-I-ALAM (SW): Hashish cultivation has witnessed an alarming rise in eastern Logar province right under the nose of the officials.
Locals and provincial council members have told Salam Watandar that Logar’s Azara district has turned into hub for hashish cultivation in the area.
Abdul Wali Wakil, a native of the district while confirming it, said that cultivation and sale of hashish have seen an alarming rise. He went on to say that up to 90 percent of the fertile land in Logar has hashish cultivated on it. Wakil said those involved in this trade earn millions of afghanis every year, he said.
“There is absolutely no doubt about it, and insecurity is the main reason behind it”, he said.
Saleem Saleh, spokesman for the provincial governor, also acknowledged it. He told Salam Watandar that the governor has directed law enforcement agencies to eradicate this menace from the district. Saleh added that the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) have confiscated more than 15, 000 kg of narcotics in the past 9 months.
“In the whole province the phenomenon of poppy or hashish planting does not exist except of Azara district”, he said. It is vital to note that the road linking Azara to the provincial capital Azara has been blocked for the past 14 months due to insecurity.
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