Police officials involved in drug trade: Salangi

CHARIKAR): Parwan Governor Abdul Basir Salangi has said it is difficult to combat the drug trade in the central province because some police officials are involved in the illicit commerce.

“Drug trade is common in Charikar and other parts of the province. I ask security officials at every meeting to do more to prevent the business,” Salangi told Pajhwok Afghan News during an exclusive conversation.

The governor said a number of police officers had links with smugglers who sold drugs to youth. “I want youth to get education and future.”

Salangi argued the youth addicted to drugs eventually fell into the hands of insurgents, who used them for creating insecurity. The governor’s house has received a number of complaints of drug users’ involvement in robberies.

Provincial counternarcotics chief Sher Agha Talash acknowledged drugs were openly sold in Charikar and other districts of the province, including Bagram, Jabalus Saraj, Pul Matak and Hofyan Sharif.

He said they had received complaints that drugs were sold in front of police posts in some areas. His department has launched joint efforts with police and common people to combat drug sales and smuggling.

Residents of Charikar and districts also complained drugs were openly sold in their areas, claiming police could not stop the business because some powerful individuals maneuvered behind the scene.

A Charikar resident, Waisuddin, told Pajhwok Afghan News that drugs addicts had created many problems in the society, accusing them of stealing things from homes, shops and streets. He said police arrested some drug smugglers and addicts, but released them shortly afterwards.

Old Charikar city dweller Mohammad Zarif said every kind of drugs from chars to heroin could easily be found because they were in abundance. He said residents had many times complained to police, but they failed to do something.

Police chief Abdul Rahman Sarjang also acknowledged some police officials and commanders were involved in drug trade.

He said an investigation into the police involvement had been launched and serious measures were being taken to prevent drug trade and smuggling.

Sarjang insisted police had taken actions against drug smugglers and dealers and confiscated hundreds of kilograms of drugs. Those arrested with drugs have been produced before the prosecutors, he said.

He said poppy cultivation in Parwan had reached zero level and the credit went to police, calling for people’s cooperation in doing away with drug trade and smuggling.

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