KABUL, June 7 (Xinhua) -- Afghanistan's counter-narcotics police arrested a drug smuggler and seized 44 kg of opium from his possession in the eastern Ghazni province on Saturday, provincial police spokesman Khalid Sarhadi said Sunday.

The alleged drug smuggler was attempting to take the contraband to an unknown destination, but was discovered during the checking of a car and taken into custody, the official said.

After completing a preliminary investigation, the police will hand over the smuggler to the judiciary for further investigation, the official said.

The war against illegal drugs has been intensified as the Ministry of Interior Affairs reported arresting 50 individuals on charges of involvement in drug trafficking in the post-war country. ■