24 May 2009

Large drugs bust in Afghanistan

7:32 am on 24 May 2009

American and Afghan forces have made a big drug seizure in southern Afghanistan.

The haul includes opium poppy seeds, morphine, heroin and hashish and large quantities of chemicals used for processing the drugs.

A statement issued on Saturday by the US military says more than 90,000kg of narcotics were seized in an operation in Helmand province, southwest of the provincial capital Lashkar Gah.

The drugs have since been destroyed by air strikes.

Helmand is the main producer of Afghan opium, which accounts for more than 90% of the world's supply.

Most of it is turned into heroin and smuggled into Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

The trade of drugs is an important source of revenue for the Taliban.