Rising Opium Prices in Afghanistan: Implications of the Drug Ban

Opium prices in Afghanistan have surged tenfold since the 2022 drug ban, with a kilogram costing $750 in 2023. Despite a decline in seizures, organized crime continues to profit from the trade. Large traders hold 60% of the opium stockpiles, leaving farmers in financial distress. UNODC calls for coordinated international action to combat trafficking and support alternative livelihoods for farmers.

Afghanistan’s opium prices have skyrocketed, increasing tenfold following a drug ban imposed by the country’s de facto authorities in 2022. According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the price for a kilogram of opium rose from $75 three years ago to $750 in 2023, despite a decrease in poppy cultivation and production. Afghanistan continues to play a significant role in the global opium trade alongside Colombia and Myanmar.

The UNODC reported a notable decline of 50% in the weight of heroin and opium seizures since 2021. However, the increase in opium prices has not halted the lucrative drug trade; rather, it has led to profits being concentrated within organized crime networks and high-level traders, who dominate the illegal market. “Drug trafficking in Afghanistan remains a highly profitable illicit trade,” stated UNODC Executive Director Ghada Waly, emphasizing concerns over the destabilizing impacts of these profits.

In late 2022, Afghanistan’s opiate stockpiles were estimated at 13,200 tonnes, sufficient to meet global demand until 2027. These stockpiles were valued between $4.6 billion and $5.9 billion prior to the reduction in cultivation, highlighting their significant contribution to Afghanistan’s economy, accounting for nearly a quarter in 2023.

Despite the soaring prices of opium, Afghan farmers, who previously relied on opium cultivation, are facing severe financial difficulties. The UNODC noted that large traders and exporters control approximately 60% of the remaining stockpiles, while farmers possess only 30%. The agency warns that without sustainable economic alternatives, many of these farmers may revert to poppy cultivation due to financial distress.

As supplies of opium diminish, there is a growing concern that users might turn to synthetic opioids like fentanyl, which have dire public health implications. The UNODC has called for international cooperation targeting trafficking networks, paired with investments in alternative livelihoods for Afghan farmers, to promote long-term stability in the region.

The significant rise in opium prices in Afghanistan following a drug ban illustrates the complexities of the drug trade and its impact on local farmers. While the stockpiles remain substantial, the financial burden on farmers is troubling, as most of the profits remain with organized crime networks. An international effort is necessary to address both the illicit drug trade and provide sustainable economic options for the affected communities.

Original Source: daryo.uz