In a first, ANF destroys poppy crop on 60 acres

The dangerous trend of poppy cultivation has now reached some lawless areas of Sindh.

ISLAMABAD: The Federally Administered Tribal Areas and some parts of Balochistan were known for poppy cultivation, but the dangerous trend has now reached some lawless areas of Sindh, as the Anti-Narcotics Force has learnt.

In a first, the ANF, Rangers and Sindh police destroyed a poppy crop on 60 acres in Rahu jo Aatho village of Qambar district, said a press statement on Thursday. One kanal of land produces on average of four kilograms of opium.

An ANF official told The Express Tribune that they were surprised to see poppy being cultivated in settled areas. The poppy crop is harvested in Fata in April or May but in Sindh’s hot climate it was already ready.

The ANF will be aerially surveying the entire country next month. Since the law and order situation on the ground is not good in places such as Fata, this method works best.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 25^th, 2011.