21. The police helicopter crashed during a joint mission with the army to eradicate drug crops. 22. The report praised efforts in the region to arrest drug traffickers and eradicate drug crops, but warned that drug traffic through the region is increasing consumption. 23. They want the government to manually eradicate the crops instead of spraying, said Gonzalo Cardenas, the mayor of Tibu. 24. They say, however, that U.S.-trained troops and equipment will be used against guerrillas who try to block efforts to eradicate drug crops and destroy labs. 25. A government programme to eradicate poppy crops got underway in nearby Nangarhar province last week amid violent protests by farmers. 26. The ruling military junta has come under harsh international criticism for its failure to clamp down on illegal drug producers and eradicate drug crops. 27. Repatriations from Pakistan were suspended on Tuesday following violent protests by hundreds of Afghan tribesmen against an Afghan interim government scheme to eradicate opium poppy crops. |