SHEBERGHAN (SW) – The Sheberghan city in Jawzjan province is witnessing an alarming surge in child drug peddlers.
Every morning, as the Sun rises, groups of drug addicts emerge around different corners in downtown Sheberghan. This growing number of addicts was already a matter of concern for many, but the involvement of minor drug peddlers in this vicious cycle has further sparked anxieties.
Bashir (pseudonym) is one such 12-year-old boy known among drug addicts and the locals for supplying narcotics in different parts of the city. Wearing worn-out shoes and carrying a black bag, the minor shuttles between drug traffickers and addicts to make ends meet for his family.
The boy informed Salam Watandar he is paid up to 200 AFN a day to supply up to 40 packets of narcotics worth around AFN 200 each.
The locals are blaming the provincial administration for the appalling state of affairs in this context. They assert the officials have failed miserably in taking the narcotics traders into account, and taking them to justice, which is now leaving severe negative impacts on the lives of children.
Ahmad Javed, a resident of Sheberghan, informed a large number of children are involved in this dirty business, and urgent measures need to be put in place to stop the situation from getting worst or future generations would sufferer severely.
Commenting on this, Abdul Hafeez Khashi, director for security at the provincial police headquarters, informed the law enforcement agencies are tirelessly working to nab narcotics traders as well as drug addicts in a bid to overcome this issue.
In the views of Hassan Salimi, an official associated with the Ministry of Refugees and Repatriates, such exploitation of children amounts to human trafficking, and those found guilty of it should face strict punishments.
Based on the laws against human trafficking, the corresponding state institutions are bound to act against human trafficking in collaboration with the partner organizations.
Civil society activists in the Jawzjan believe elements within the provincial administration are involved in promoting the exploitation of children for drug peddling here.
ENDS
