2 Afghans sentenced to 17 years prison for heroin smuggling; 2 Afghans died in roadside bomb

2 Afghan men convicted for heroin trafficking

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan — A roadside bomb killed two Afghan civilians in the volatile south Tuesday, and a court in the region sentenced two men to 17 years in prison for trafficking large amounts of heroin.

A civilian vehicle struck the bomb in Kandahar province’s Khakrez district early Tuesday. Two men were killed and two injured, according to Kandahar government spokesman Zalmai Ayubi.

In the drug case, a farmer and a mechanic from southern Helmand province were convicted of trying to smuggle 2.5 metric tons of heroin, according to the Afghan criminal justice task force. They also were fined 2 million Afghanis (about $43,000) apiece.

The government says five other traffickers were convicted and sentenced to prison in other cases across Afghanistan.