Drug being sold openly in Maidan Wardak

MAIDAN SHAHAR (Pajhwok): Local officials and residents on Wednesday said drugs were being openly sold in some shops in Maidan Shahar, the capital of central Maidan Wardak province.

The business of the banned stuff continue in parts of the city despite the fact that the issue had been brought into the notice of security officials, counternarcotics department director, Eng. Zabihullah Fazli, told Pajhwok Afghan News.

Anyone could purchase hashish, opium and heroin that were openly sold in some shops of the provincial capital, he added.

Governor Attaullah Khogyani said a commission led by police had been tasked to eliminate the drug business and bring the perpetrators to justice.   

Officials from police headquarters, intelligence, public health, environmental protection, counternarcotics departments and municipality have membership of the commission, he added.

Police Spokesman Maj. Abdul Wali Noorzai, said ten persons had been arrested for their alleged involvement in drug business.

The detained men apparently run their shops of food items but they were doing drug business. Police had been unable to arrest them, he added. 

The public health director, Dr. Ghulam Farooq Mukhlis, on other hand expressed concerns over the growing number of drug addicts.

There was only one drugs rehabilitation centre in the province, which has the capacity to accommodate 20 patients, where the number of drug addicted reached to 1,000 persons.

Analyst, Gul Rahman, said many youth were addicted to drugs due to joblessness, insecurity and poverty.

He said most of the youth were going to neighbouring Iran for jobs and became addicted to drugs after returning back to their country.

mm/rm

Visits: 3