Opium prices in Afghanistan have increased tenfold since a drug ban was enacted in 2022, reaching $750 per kilogram. Despite a decline in poppy cultivation, profits have concentrated among organized crime, while many farmers struggle financially. With UNODC warning of shifts to synthetic opioids, there is a pressing call for international cooperation to provide economic alternatives and disrupt trafficking networks.
According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), opium prices in Afghanistan have experienced a dramatic increase, rising tenfold since the implementation of a drug ban by the country’s de facto authorities in 2022. The cost of a kilogram of opium soared from $75 three years ago to $750 in 2023, despite a reduction in poppy cultivation and production. Afghanistan continues to be a significant player in the global opium trade alongside Colombia and Myanmar.
Although there has been a 50% decrease in the weight of heroin and opium seizures since 2021, the UNODC cautions that the price surge has not hindered the drug trade’s profitability. Profits have now become concentrated among high-level traders and organized crime networks that dominate the illicit market. “Drug trafficking in Afghanistan remains a highly profitable illicit trade,” stated UNODC Executive Director Ghada Waly.
The UNODC estimates that as of the end of 2022, Afghanistan had 13,200 tonnes of opiate stockpiles, which could meet global demand until 2027. The stockpiles, previously valued between $4.6 billion and $5.9 billion prior to the decline in cultivation, represented nearly a quarter of the Afghan economy in 2023.
In stark contrast, many Afghan farmers, who previously relied on opium cultivation, now face severe financial difficulties. Approximately 60% of the remaining opium stockpiles are held by large traders and exporters, leaving only 30% in the hands of farmers. The UN agency emphasized the urgent need for sustainable economic alternatives: “Most farmers who previously cultivated opium are likely experiencing severe financial hardship.”
As opium supplies diminish, there are growing concerns that buyers may shift towards synthetic opioids such as fentanyl, which carry heightened public health risks. The UNODC advocates for an internationally coordinated response aimed at dismantling trafficking networks while also investing in alternative livelihoods for Afghan farmers to foster long-term stability.
The surge in opium prices in Afghanistan following the drug ban has resulted in increased profitability for organized crime, with significant implications for farmers and public health. As large traders control the majority of opium stockpiles, there is an urgent need for sustainable economic solutions for Afghan farmers to prevent a return to illicit cultivation. Moreover, the rising prices may push traffickers toward more dangerous synthetic opioids, underscoring the necessity of a comprehensive international strategy to address these intertwined issues.
Original Source: daryo.uz
