US and Russia 'cooperate on Afghan drugs raids'

US and Russian special forces have collaborated in raids on drugs labs in Afghanistan which destroying $250m (€181m) of heroin and morphine, a Russian news agency is quoting the country’s anti-narcotics chief as saying.

Viktor Ivanov today revealed the unprecedented joint operation hit four laboratories near the border with Pakistan and caused up to $1bn (€720m) in damage to the wider drug trade, RIA Novosti said.

It is unclear when the operation was carried out.

Ivanov said the forces seized up to 200 million doses of heroin.

Leaders of the Cold War foes hail Afghanistan as a place of cooperation, with both countries concerned with wiping out terrorism and drug exports.

So far it has mostly been limited to Russia providing its territory for US military transit.