Opium

Poppy growth down 95 pct in Afghanistan since Taliban ban: UN

Poppy cultivation and opium production have plunged 95 percent in Afghanistan since Taliban authorities banned the crop, according to a U.N. report published Sunday.

Since returning to power in 2021, Taliban authorities have vowed to end illegal drug production in Afghanistan and in April 2022 banned the cultivation of the poppy plant, from which opium and heroin are made.

Police seize total of 3,700 opium poppy plants in Viotia

Police seized a total of 3,700 opium poppy plants in the region of Viotia in central Greece Tuesday and arrested four foreign nationals - three Indians, aged 36, 47 and 58, and a 28-year-old Pakistani.

Authorities are also looking for a 64-year-old Greek man.

Three of those arrested did not have residence permits.

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