Taliban ban poppy cultivation because of drugs, but synthetic ones are gaining momentum

The area under opium poppy, or opium poppy, cultivation in Afghanistan has declined by 20 percent this year, continuing a decline following the Taliban's announced 2022 ban on the drug.

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) estimates that the area under cultivation has fallen to 10,200 hectares, down significantly from 232,000 hectares before the ban.

The opium harvest is estimated at 296 tonnes, a 32 per cent decrease year-on-year. However, despite the reduced production, the price has fallen by 27 per cent to $570 per kilogram, which UNODC says is indicative of changes in market dynamics.

The drop in prices could motivate opium cultivation in other countries. The office also warns of the growing production of synthetic drugs, particularly methamphetamine, which is becoming more attractive to criminal groups. It is easier to produce, relatively resistant to climate change and harder to detect.

UNODC's findings indicate a fundamental shift in drug markets in the region, where the trade in traditional opiates is rapidly being replaced by synthetic alternatives.

(reuters, max)