AFGHANISTAN CRIME DRUGS

Taliban security destroys opium field in Kandahar

epa11082562 A Taliban security member looks on as an opium poppy field is destroyed at Arghandab district of Kandahar, Afghanistan, 15 January 2024 (issued on 16 January 2024). According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), opium poppy cultivation in Afghanistan has plummeted by 95% due to a drug ban imposed by the de facto authorities in April 2022. Opium cultivation fell across all parts of the country, from 233,000 hectares to just 10,800 hectares in 2023. The sharp reduction in opium cultivation has led to a corresponding 95% drop in opium supply, with significant humanitarian consequences for vulnerable rural communities. UNODC Executive Director Ghada Waly emphasized the urgent need for enhanced assistance and alternative development support to build an opium-free future for the people of Afghanistan, while also addressing the potential risks and consequences of the dramatic decrease in opium cultivation. EPA/STRINGER

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