HERAT, Afghanistan, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- Afghan authorities torched 25 tons of illegal drugs including heroin and hashish, and destroyed six drug-producing labs in western Herat province on Wednesday, provincial administration spokesman Hamidullah Motawakel said.
"The contraband collected over the last four months, including heroin, hashish, opium poppy and objects used for manufacturing heroin, was set on fire in the outskirt of the provincial capital Herat city this morning," Motawakel told Xinhua.
Police officers have discovered and destroyed six drug-producing labs in the province over the past four months and arrested all those involved in the business, officials said without revealing the exact number.
Afghan police have also discovered a drug-producing lab in Zazay Arub area of eastern Paktia province and destroyed it on Tuesday.
The Taliban-run caretaker administration has banned poppy cultivation, drug production and drug trafficking in the war-torn country. ■