Narcotics found in Afghan army vehicle

Afghan highway authorities claim they found 300 kilograms, or more than 660 pounds, of narcotics in a vehicle belonging to the Afghan army.

Gen. Khalil, police chief of the northern highway area, told the BBC Persian service Monday that an army vehicle was challenged at a police checkpoint, but that the driver refused to stop and opened fire on police.

Police chased the vehicle and eventually stopped it in the Kelagai desert of the northern Baghlan province.

The people inside the vehicle escaped, but police have cordoned off villages in the Kelagai desert to find them.

Without presenting proof, Khalil said the vehicle belonged to an army unit of southern Helmand province.

The Defense Ministry has not commented on the case.

Afghanistan's northern highway has been one of the routes frequently used by drug traffickers.

Non-governmental organizations and, in some cases, the Afghan government itself have accused Afghan officials of having a hand in drug trafficking, but no high-ranking officials have been arrested in this connection yet.

If the case is proved, it will take many by surprise, as the Afghan national army has been thought to be disciplined, clean and transparent.

© Copyright 2006 by United Press International