Members of a new Afghan border force backed by U.S. troops have seized 1,000 lbs. of heroin and netted seven suspected smugglers, the U.S. military said Saturday.
Afghanistan is the world’s major producer of heroin and drug trafficking is one of the country’s most serious problems as it strives for stability after decades of conflict.
“This is counter-narcotics at its best. The entire operation was planned, led and executed by the Afghans,” U.S. Army Major Anthony W. Oliver said in a statement.
“All we supplied was coaching, mentoring and some logistics,” he said of U.S. involvement in the seizure near the Iranian border last weekend.
The street value of the seized heroin was about $2 million, the U.S. military said.
Most drugs from Afghanistan end up in Europe and Western countries have promised millions of dollars in aid to fight the drugs trade.
