Afghans raid desert 'drug bazaar'

Many farmers still need convincing to grow less profitable crops

Elite Afghan security forces have raided a remote "drug bazaar" near the border with Pakistan, seizing tons of heroin, opium and related chemicals.

The anti-drug units stormed Bahram Shah village in the southern province of Helmand, a key staging post on the drug route into Pakistan and Iran.

Afghan officials said that up to 1,000 traffickers use the village each day, but none were arrested in the raid.

Afghanistan produced 90% of the world's opium in 2004.

The operation, carried out by troops specially trained by the US and Britain to fight drug production and trafficking in Afghanistan, was hailed as an example of the Afghan government's commitment to fighting drugs.

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Afghanistan

Leaked US documents recently criticised President Hamid Karzai for failing to crack down on the drug trade.

On a recent visit to Washington, Mr Karzai pledged to reduce opium farming by 30% during 2005.

Smugglers flee

Anti-drug forces have recently made several large seizures

Afghanistan's Deputy Interior Minister, General Mohammed Daud, said 2.5 tons of opium were seized at Bahram Shah, a staging post within sight of the Pakistan border.

Some 250kg (550lb) of heroin and 3.5 tons of chemicals used to convert opium into heroin were also seized, Gen Daud said.

Although the bazaar was well known to authorities, it had not been targeted in previous operations because of its remote location and strong fortifications.

There were no arrests during the operation as up to 1,000 suspects fled across the border into Pakistan, the general added.

Afghan officials say they are seizing ever-increasing amounts of drugs as specialist training pays off and stability grows within the country.

But the UN has recently voiced fears that Afghanistan could turn into a "narco-state" if it failed to bring the drug trade under control.