Australia’s Tiny Medical Consulting Firm Gets Wrongly Accused of Taliban‑Backed Cannabis Plant
Imagine a small family‑run Australian business suddenly finding the world’s headlines shouting about a $450 million drug‑processing plant in Afghanistan. That’s exactly what happened to Cpharm Australia on Nov. 25, when a rumor—far from the truth—claimed it had teamed up with the Taliban to spin out hashish for a legal medical market.
The Rumor Snapshot
- Afghanistan’s Pajhwok Afghan News posted a story that Cpharm had met Afghan officials to discuss building a medicine factory.
- The Times of London and other news giants amplified the headline, flashing the Australian name in bold.
- Verified Twitter accounts linked to BBC and Al Arabiya echoed the claim without checking facts.
Cpharm Australia’s Not‑So‑Smooth Response
“We’re just trying to get the story straight,” Chief Financial Officer Tony Gabites told Reuters, sounding like a manager on a war‑zone call. He mentioned that the company had “40 or 50 calls today” and was “out of control.”
Gabites pointed out that the baggage likely started from a taliban‑linked tweet that mixed up a company name with another Cpharm from a different corner of the globe. “We’re not a manufacturer; we’re a consulting firm,” he said. “We can’t even start a $450 million contract.”
Why the Buzz, Why the Lack of Fact‑Checking
- Major outlets grabbed a headline without verifying the deep‑sea details.
- Rumors spread like a virus among global journalists who were looking for a scoop.
- None of the parties—Cpharm or the Taliban—ever met or signed a deal.
Potential Legal and Business Fallout
Gabites hinted that the company might pursue legal action if the false story harmed its business, especially since it could be seen as a violation of international sanctions. He added, “Most of the other companies we work with would just laugh at that article.” The damage, for now, looks short‑term, but the story stands as a cautionary tale for media outlets.
Bottom Line
In a world where a headline can become a headline, the real truth remains that Cpharm Australia is a medical advisory firm from Maitland, far from any of Afghanistan’s cannabis production projects. It’s a reminder that a single misstep in fact‑checking can send a small business into a media frenzy it never asked for.
