Nangahar, Afghanistan
Poppy cultivation in Afghanistan has soared back to pre-Taliban levels, the U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime said last week. The Taliban is believed to have dealt in opium poppies, the plant used to make heroin, until 2000, when it banned all poppy cultivation as part of a crackdown on drug use and immorality. The crop has been making a steady comeback under the new, still-weak democratic government. This year Afghanistan is expected to produce nearly 4,000 tons of opium, worth more than $2 billion—equal to half of the country’s gross domestic product. “There is a palpable risk that Afghanistan will again turn into a failed state,” said U.N. anti-drug czar Antonio Maria Costa, “this time in the hands of drug cartels and narcoterrorists.”
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
What are the different types of nuclear weapons?The Explainer Speculation mounts that post-war taboo on nuclear weapons could soon be shattered by use of 'battlefield' missiles
-
Floral afternoon teas to enjoy during the Chelsea Flower ShowThe Week Recommends These are the prettiest spots in the city to savour a traditional treat
-
How to plan a trip along the Mississippi RiverThe Week Recommends See this vital waterway from the Great River Road
