Police destroy poppy crops in Landikotal, arrest cultivators

LANDIKOTAL: The police destroyed poppy crops cultivated on several acres of land in the remote area of Loey Shalman in Landikotal tehsil of Khyber district and arrested several cultivators, police officials said on Thursday.

District Police Officer, Khyber, Rai Mazhar Iqbal said that several suspects involved in the illegal cultivation and drug trade were apprehended during the action. “Cases have been registered against the arrested persons under relevant sections of the Anti-Narcotics Act,” he said, adding, the war against drugs would be continued until the menace was completely eradicated. Reiterating the department’s commitment to eliminating all forms of narcotics activity from the region, the DPO appealed to the public to support police efforts by reporting any drug-related activities in their neighborhoods. He said that public cooperation was essential in winning the fight against drug abuse.

Poppy cultivation in Pakistan remained a challenge, especially in border and remote regions. According to official data, around 6,700 acres of land are being used for illegal poppy cultivation every year, with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and tribal districts among the most affected areas.

Authorities said that the remoteness of areas like Loey Shalman, Tirah and rest of the border villages provides cover for such illegal activities, making operations more difficult and requiring coordinated efforts from law enforcement agencies.

Security officials confirmed that intelligence-based operations would be continued in coming weeks, focusing on both cultivators and those involved in drug trafficking. They warned that anyone found complicit in drug production or trade would face strict legal consequences.