MOSCOW, 05 April 2022, (TON): Moscow supports Kabul in its efforts to intensify the fight against the drug threat and counts on the effective implementation of practical steps in this direction.

This is stated in a statement released on Monday by the Russian Foreign Ministry.

The Russian Foreign Ministry noted that they consider the ban announced by the Afghan leadership on the cultivation of opium poppy, as well as on the production, sale, transportation and smuggling of all types of drugs as an important step towards eradicating the drug problem in this country.

The ministry said “we support Kabul in an effort to intensify the fight against the drug threat. Thus, the Taliban movement, which previously assumed public obligations to “free the state from drugs, is taking practical measures to fulfill them. We look forward to effective implementation announced decisions.”

As emphasized on Smolenskaya Square, the drug industry has now become a significant part of the Afghan economy.

The statement said “according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the proceeds from the criminal business bring from 9 to 14% of GDP. This situation also poses a threat to regional security. We are very concerned about the increased cases of interception of drugs from Afghan territory in the countries of the region, which indicates an increase in smuggling drug trafficking.”