Afghanistan produces about 87% of the world's opium, the United Nations estimates. The LA Times has this story on the lure of the opium trade in Afghanistan.
Still, the U.N. and the Afghan government predict that this year's opium harvest will be at least 30% smaller than the record 4,200 tons in 2004, partly because of a more aggressive eradication effort. The law of supply and demand has helped too. A glut has driven down prices and profits. But this year's smaller harvest is expected to push prices back up and encourage more planting and trafficking.The administration brags about how they've cut the amount of drugs going out of Afghanistan by 30% this year like it's some great thing that they were responsible for. The reason why there were fewer drugs is because the world market was super saturated. But as that quote suggests, a year with fewer drugs leads to another big year to follow.
The article states how now many druglords are too well connected to be kept in jail for long. Too many corrupt officials letting them out of jail so that their own private cash flow can continue. The drug trafficking situation is bad and getting worse in Afghanistan thanks in large part to the powers that be here in the U.S. Yep, I'm looking at you dubya. How bad is it?
"Trying to get rid of drugs in Afghanistan is like trying to clear sand from a beach with a bucket," said an American counter-narcotics agent.
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