German magazine links Karzai's half-brother to Afghan narco trade

Berlin, Aug 13 (ANI-IRNA): The Hamburg-based weekly news magazine Stern has said in a report that the half-brother of Afghan President Hamid Karzai has stockpiled tons of raw opium at his countryside residence in southern Afghanistan.

According to the report quoted by the Iran's official news agency IRNA, British elite forces discovered and confiscated tons of raw opium which is the basis for producing heroin, at Ahmad Wali's ranch in Kandahar.

British and American experts have repeatedly charged Ahmad Wali with being involved in narco-trafficking.

According to Stern, British soldiers had initially arrested a group of Taliban fighters on July 22 as they were transporting opium.

Later, it was announced the drug smugglers were linked to Ahmad Wali's countryside residence.

Meanwhile, videos and protocols of Ahmad Wali's interrogation were handed to Karzai and the interior ministry, however no measures have yet been taken.

Ahmad Wali is chairman of the Kandahar provincial council.

The British Embassy in Kabul has so far refused to comment on the German report.

Afghanistan produces over 90 percent of the world's opium, the raw ingredient for making heroin. Its market value is in the billions of euros.

Most of the drugs are produced in the south, where the insurgency is the most violent. (ANI)