The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has issued a press release on September 10, suggesting the potential increase in methamphetamine production in Afghanistan under Taliban rule. However, the report does not provide specific figures to substantiate this claim but instead relies on data from previous years. In 2017, only 2.7 tons of the drug were seized in Afghanistan and neighboring countries, while this number surged to 29.7 tons in 2021. The report emphasizes that its primary focus is not to assess the Taliban's counter-narcotics efforts.
The key finding of the report challenges the prevailing narrative surrounding Afghan methamphetamine production. While the media often highlights ephedra as a cheap precursor for methamphetamine production in Afghanistan, the analysis of seized drug batches suggests that more effective chemical components are primarily used in the manufacturing process.
Additionally, the report acknowledges that the Taliban's ban on drugs, enforced through an emir's decree, has led to a significant reduction in opium poppy production. This stands in contrast to a UNODC report from November 2022, which indicated the opposite trend. This recent development could be seen as a second indirect confirmation of the effectiveness of the Taliban's anti-drug efforts.
The UNODC's press release underscores the complexity of drug production and trafficking in Afghanistan and highlights the need for continued monitoring and analysis of the situation. The impact of the Taliban's rule on the country's drug trade remains a topic of ongoing concern and study within the international community.
Earlier Daryo reported that during NATO's two-decade-long presence in Afghanistan, drug production increased by a factor of 50, and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) indicates that it has maintained its upward trajectory even under Taliban rule.
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