| Submit your comments on this article |
| Afghanistan |
| Afghan opium production to explode as foreign troops withdraw |
| 2011-11-25 |
| Opium and heroin production will spiral out of control in Afghanistan as foreign troops withdraw towards 2014, the country's former anti-drugs chief has warned. Taliban insurgents and farmers will take advantage of the withdrawal to increase poppy production, said General Khodaidad. Afghanistan already produces more than 90 per cent of the world's opium and more than 95 per cent of the heroin on Britain's streets, but he predicted the trade would soon be "completely out of control". Britain has spent tens of millions of pounds on counter narcotics schemes in the past six years in Helmand. The province remains the world centre of opium production. Gen Khodaidad, who was minister for counter narcotics for four years, said the industry was thriving on Afghan insecurity, corruption and weak government. He said: "The Taliban is stronger than this present government and that directly affects poppy cultivation." "The Taliban explains to the farmer that the foreign troops are leaving and if you grow poppy, I am still here." The Taliban are estimated to raise annually between £60 and £250 million a year through the trade. High opium prices meant production rose nearly seven percent this year according to the latest United Nations estimates. |
| Posted by:tipper |
| #3 Must spread ... spread Opium Virus... Now... optimum time... |
| Posted by: Water Modem 2011-11-25 23:48 |
| #2 I wonder what the numbers are. The cost of the war on terrorism to us or the cost of heroin with its problems to Asia. The Afghan people have been spreading the misery of opium for generations. |
| Posted by: Penguin 2011-11-25 21:14 |
| #1 Hopefully a lot of heroin will flow into Iran, and stay there. |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2011-11-25 13:32 |