Karzai orders crackdown on drug dealers

KABUL): President Hamid Karzai on Tuesday ordered the Ministry of Interior to crack down on the groups involved in drug dealing and bring them to justice.  

Chairing a Cabinet meeting at the Presidential Palace, Karzai ordered security forces to take stern action against drug dealers to contain the increasing number of addicts in the country.

A statement issued from his office said the president also called for effective measures for rehabilitation of drug addicts.

The meeting decided to seek help from religious scholars, teachers and media in creating awareness about the hazardous effects of using drugs.  

Ministers of interior, public health officials were asked to make joint efforts for dealing with the scourge.

According to the Ministry of Counter-Narcotics, nearly one million people across the country are addicted to drugs. In October, a UN report said opium production in the country could increase 61 percent, from 3,600 tonnes to 5,800 tonnes.

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