38 convicted of drug trafficking

KABUL): Thirty-eight people were sentenced to 2 to 20 years in jail by an appellant court for trafficking alcohol and drugs, the Criminal Justice Task Force (CJTF) announced on Sunday.

The men were convicted based on evidence presented in an open trial, CJTF spokesman Ahmad Khalid Mowahid told Pajhwok Afghan News.

Those convicted had defence lawyers to plead their cases, he said, adding that the men had been detained on the charge of trafficking 132 kilograms of heroin, 180 kg of opium, more than 125 litres of alcoholic beverages, 40 kgs of morphine, 1.5 tonnes of hashish and 1080 litres of acid by security forces in different parts of the country.

Under the relevant law, they can appeal their conviction to the Supreme Court.

Last month, 15 people were convicted by the same court to 5 to 20 years in jail for trafficking drugs and banned beverages.

myn/ma