In an effort to fight poppy cultivation and drug trafficking, the Ministry of Interior (MoI) on Saturday appointed counter-narcotics officials in all 34 provinces.

The counter-narcotics department of the MoI has ordered all newly assigned officials to stand strongly against poppy cultivation and drug traffickers across the provinces.

“The counter-narcotics department of the MoI has started the process of appointments in order to seriously fight against cultivation and drug trafficking across the country,” said Hedayatullah Hedayat, deputy spokesman of the MoI.

According to residents, because of the easy access to drugs, the number of addicts is increasing every day in the capital city of Kabul and in other provinces.

“Drugs addicts have increased in Kabul, they can easily find drugs, they are creating problems for the people,” said Abozar, a resident.

Abdul Qader, a former Afghan National Army member, took to using drugs after losing his job after the political change in the country.

“I lost my job and could not find a new job, I got addicted and there is no possibility to abandon it,” said Abdul Qader.

“Every day, he is selling something from home to pay for drugs,” said the mother of Abdul Qader.

Afghanistan is one of the biggest producers of drugs in the world.

According to reports, drug trafficking has increased during the government of the Islamic Emirate, and the security forces on the border of Tajikistan said they seized nearly 500 kilograms of drugs at the border area during the last two months.