Taliban officials in the northeastern Afghan province of Badakhshan have arrested 31 people for growing poppies, reported DPA, quoted by BTA, citing local authorities.
The arrests are part of the Taliban's ongoing efforts to eradicate the drug trade.
An official of the local police anti-narcotics unit said the suspects are local residents of different villages in three districts of Badakhshan.
Case materials have been handed over to the local court in the province for further investigation, the official added.
In 2022 The supreme leader of the Taliban issued a decree banning the cultivation, smuggling and sale of all drugs. This led to a significant drop in opium production in Afghanistan, DPA recalls.
However, recent UN reports indicate that opium cultivation has recovered slightly, particularly in the country's northeastern provinces.
The Taliban's crackdown on the drug trade, although it has successfully reduced opium production, has also led to economic hardship for Afghans who rely heavily on poppy cultivation, DPA points out.
Experts believe a more gradual approach is needed, combined with comprehensive economic support to address the root causes of the problem.
During the US invasion of Afghanistan, the country became the world's main source of opium, accounting for about 90% of the world's supply.