Hashish Mega-Haul in Pakistan Points to New Production Zone

By
Bill Weinberg

Last week, Pakistan’s Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) announced the seizure of a huge shipment of hashish, weighing 3.37 metric tons and said to be destined for international markets.

An ANF unit carried out the raid in a remote area of the Balochistan province, apparently acting on a tip. The raid targeted what was called a “desolate site” in the Qilla Abdullah district, along the border of Afghanistan. The stash was reportedly stuffed in plastic bags at a hidden location.

Pakistani news accounts (e.g. the International News and Pakistan Today) actually referred to the seized substance as “hashish (Garda),” which is a slight contradiction.

Hashish is properly known as charas in Pakistan, Afghanistan and India, while garda is Pashto for “dust”—meaning the unrefined resin shaken from the cannabis buds (what is known in North Africa as kif).

So presumably, this stash was yet to be refined into hashish and was produced locally rather than having been smuggled across the border from Afghanistan. This points to Pakistan emerging as a major producer of hashish for export, as opposed to just a transfer country for Afghan product.

Bill Weinberg

Bill Weinberg is based in New York City.

View Comments

  • I wish they would export some to USA. I smoked some there a few years ago, it was and is the best hash I ever smoked.

By
Bill Weinberg
Tags: hashish

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