A small Australian medical consulting company found itself in the midst of an unexpected storm today, Thursday, after its name was mistakenly mentioned in a report regarding an agreement with the Afghan Taliban to fund a cannabis manufacturing plant with investments amounting to 450 million. This unforeseen "storm" for the company followed a report by the Afghan news agency Jawak, stating that representatives of the Australian company C Farm met with drug control officials from the Ministry of Interior to discuss the production of medications and other products at the plant, allowing for the legal use of cannabis in the country.
A number of global media outlets reported on this, including the London Times, which published a specific report mentioning the Australian company. Twitter accounts associated with the BBC also circulated this claim.
However, C Farm Australia, a family-run company employing 17 staff, clarified to Reuters that it has never communicated with the Taliban and has no foreign dealings or any activities involving cannabis. Tony Jabits, the company's chief financial officer, confirmed by phone from the office located 166 kilometers from Sydney that the entire matter is false, stating, "We received 40 or 50 calls today. It has gotten out of control. It’s all lies."
It is noteworthy that the opium and drug trade has long been a cornerstone of wealth in Afghanistan. The country produced thousands of tons of this narcotic during the 1990s, particularly after three years following the start of the Taliban's rule. The return of the Taliban to power since August 2021 seems to have revived this internationally prohibited trade once again, as several markets have thrived, while the Taliban appeared to overlook the matter, allowing "things" to take their course!
