Afghan drug lords grow super poppy seeds
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Poppy farmers in Afghanistan are expecting a windfall as they prepare to harvest opium from a new variety of poppy seeds said to boost yield of the resin that produces heroin

New seeds grow bigger bulbs and can be scored twice in few days, doubling quantity of raw opium

Plants mature in three to four months rather than five, allowing farmers to crop three times a year

Seeds hand-delivered by same men who provide tools, farming advice and collect harvest. Ultimate origin unknown

POTENTIAL OPIUM PRODUCTION 1995-2014 Metric tons

95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15

2.3 2.2 2.8 2.7 4.6 3.3 2001: Fall of Taliban 3.4 3.6 4.2 4.1 5.3 7.4 5.9 4.0 3.6 5.8 3.7 5.5 6.4 ?

2012: Foreign forces begin withdrawal
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Sources: UNODC, wire agencies?

Picture: AP

*High estimate for 2014

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