Washington: US President Donald Trump has added China, Afghanistan, India and Pakistan to the list of 23 countries identified as major drug traffickers or illicit drug producers.
Trump said these nations pose a threat to the safety of the United States and its citizens by manufacturing and smuggling illegal drugs and chemicals.
In a filing submitted to Congress on Monday, Trump named Afghanistan, Bahamas, Belize, Bolivia, Burma, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, India, Jamaica, Laos, Mexico, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Panama, Peru and Venezuela as “major drug traffickers or major illicit drug producers.”
According to the White House, the designations were formally conveyed to Congress as part of the annual presidential list. The State Department said five countries — Afghanistan, Bolivia, Burma, Colombia and Venezuela — were singled out for “failing to make the necessary efforts” in combating drug production and trafficking. These countries have been urged to strengthen their anti-narcotics initiatives.
