AFP-Top Afghan Cop on trial for Drug Smuggling

Afghan Police guard pile of burning drugs in Herat City in 2009

(Story reported by Agence France-Presse) 

KABUL — A former Afghan police general went on trial Monday for allegedly receiving tens of thousands of dollars from drug traffickers smuggling opium across the country's western border to Iran.

Mulham, 60, was in charge of border police in the three western provinces of Herat, Farah and Badghis until his arrest earlier this year on corruption charges over the smuggling of 660 kilogrammes (1,450 pounds) of opium.

Prosecutor Mohammad Zaman told a Kabul criminal court that Mulham had received a total of 93,000 US dollars in three separate bribes, to allow drug shipments to proceed to Iran, according to the testimony of two policemen.

Mulham vehemently denies all the accusations, blaming them on a conspiracy by vengeful druglords. The two policeman who appeared at the trial have also been charged in connection with the case.

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