IS extends influence over Afghan opium trade

Farmers in Afghanistan’s remote western provinces are planting their first illegal opium crop of the year, and the drug masters now include so-called Islamic State (IS) militants as well as Taliban insurgents

POTENTIAL OPIUM PRODUCTION BY AFGHAN REGION, 2014

Tonnes

Western 999

Farah: IS reportedly gainingfoothold in province and pledgesof allegiance from Taliban fighters

Northern 20

North - eastern 161

Southern 4,420 (70 percent of total)

Kabul

Central

Eastern 805

UN’s drug watchdog says last year’s record poppy crop could be exceeded in 2015

OPIUM CULTIVATION 1994-2014

Hectares (000s)

94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14

71 54 57 58 64 91 82 8 74 80 131 104 165 193 157 123 123 131 154 209 224

2001: Fall of Taliban

Afghanistan produces about 90% of world’s illicit opium

2012: Foreign forces begin to withdraw

2014: Record crop, increase of 7% on 2013

Sources: UNODC, wire agencies

Picture: Getty Images

words 172