KABUL, Afghanistan, June 27 (UPI) -- Afghan authorities say they have burned more than 60 tons of illegal drugs in eight locations across the country.
The demonstration of the government's efforts to curb drug trafficking marked the United Nations International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking Sunday, BBC News reported.
Thirty tons of seized drugs were burned outside the capital, Kabul, an official statement said. The stockpile was made up of 13 tons of opium, nine tons of hashish, two tons of heroin and six tons of other drugs, the statement said.
"These destroyed drugs will never be injected into the arms of children on our streets or on the streets of Europe," Interior Minister Ali Ahmad Jalali said.
Afghan officials say they are seizing ever-increasing amounts of drugs as specialist training pays off and stability grows within the country.
While visiting the United States earlier this month, President Hamid Karzai pledged to reduce opium farming by 30 percent this year.
Afghanistan produced 90 percent of the world's opium in 2004.
In a similar operation in Pakistan, officials said around 26 tons of narcotics were burned in Karachi.
