Afghanistan's opium production jumps by nearly 50 percent: UN

[Kadie]

Afghanistan's opium production jumps by nearly 50 percent: UN
22 minutes ago


KABUL (AFP) - Afghanistan's opium production will increase by nearly 50 percent this year to a record 6,100 tonnes after an "alarming" jump in cultivation in the lawless south.

The area of land planted with opium -- of which Afghanistan produces more than 90 percent of world supply -- rose 59 percent this year as compared to last year, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) said Saturday.

The sharp increase in the number of acres planted would lead to a likely harvest of 6,100 tonnes -- a 49 percent hike over the 4,100 tonnes produced the year before.

"This year's harvest will be around 6,100 tonnes of opium -- a staggering 92 percent of total world supply. It exceeds global consumption by 30 percent," UNODC global executive director Antonio Maria Costa said in Kabul.

The hike comes despite government and international efforts costing millions of dollars to try to stop Afghanistan's trade in illegal opium, most of which ends up in the heroin markets of Europe and central Asia.

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http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060902/wl_asia_afp/afghanistandrugscrimeun_060902132406

[leftyladyfrommo]

1. It is that pesky ole Law of Unintended Consequences

The Taliban controlled the drug production. But now I think the Taliban and the drug lords are in cahoots.

[Nozebro]

2. You'd think that so-called free market supporters would be thrilled to

see free market principles working. After tall, there is a huge demand for drugs of all kinds and the Taliban is simply meeting that demand with as much supply as possible. Most people would rather be "impacted" by a drug than a bullet or a bomb.

[orpupilofnature57]

3. Welcome Nozebro , And tell me ShrubCo doesn't harness the Drug Industry

Wall street depends on drugs more than anybody!

[leftyladyfrommo]

4. Afghanistan is really a sticky wicket.

The Taliban were absolutely awful - especially to women. I was not sorry to see them go.

But now drugs are becoming the number one economic factor - good or bad?

Kind of caught between a rock and a hard place on this one.