ECONOMY — April 6, 2026
Taliban Destroys Approximately 800 Square Meters of Drug Crops in Ghazni
The Taliban reported destroying about 800 square meters of drug crops in Ghazni province, the first such operation this year, while claiming local drug sales and smuggling have nearly stopped. This occurs despite a cultivation ban, with UN reports noting shifts in poppy areas and rises in synthetic drugs.
The Ehtebar Desk — originates with Afghanistan International — 2 min read
KABUL, Afghanistan — The Taliban reported discovering and destroying approximately 800 square meters of drug crops in Ghazni province, describing it as the first such destruction and cleanup operation of the year 1405.
A Taliban official stated on X that sales and smuggling of drugs in Ghazni have "almost" reached zero.
The operation comes amid Mullah Hibatullah's 1401 decree banning drug cultivation and production. The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has reported that poppy cultivation has shifted from the southwest to the northeast of the country.
According to a November report from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), poppy cultivation in Afghanistan decreased by 20 percent, while production of industrial drugs increased by 50 percent.
In mid-January last year, Turkish police described Afghanistan as remaining central to drug production and smuggling, with Turkey serving as a main route to Europe.
Read the original reporting at Afghanistan International →
Reliability assessment
Single source provides direct, on-record attribution from Taliban official (quoted on X) with concrete, checkable details: specific location (Ghazni), size (~800 sqm), timing (first in year 1405). Additional claims cite named entities (UNAMA, UNODC, Turkish police, Mullah Hibatullah) with specifics.
The source language reads straight.
Independent web corroboration
An independent web search turned up no separate corroborating reports. Treat the account as single-sourced until more outlets pick it up.
Across the newsrooms
Filed by
Afghanistan International
Originating
Reported straight
Reported straight
Filed under
Economy — Taliban, Ghazni, poppy cultivation, UNODC, UNAMA
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