 |
Press Releases
Taleban took $100m from the opium trade in 2007, reveals UN |
The head of the UN counter narcotics agency has estimated that the Taleban took more than $100m from the Afghan opium trade in 2007.
Μύ
The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ has had exclusive unique access to Britain's operations over the past nine months.
Μύ
The Government is spending more than a quarter of a billion pounds over three years, working with the Afghan Government to strengthen counter narcotics institutions - setting up specialised courts, police and legal teams, and looking at alternative crops for poppy farmers.
Μύ
Antonio Maria de Costa, the global head of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), tells the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ that the Taleban raised money from a 10% religious tax or tithe on farmers in the areas they control. "We estimate the farm gate value (of the opium crop) is $1bn in 2007," he says.
Mr Costa calculates that in addition to the tax there are two other major sources of revenue.
Μύ
"One is protection to laboratories and the other is that the insurgents offer protection to cargo moving opium across the border," he says.
Μύ
He estimates that the Taleban's proceeds from the trade last year went "beyond $100m".
Μύ
The final figures for this year's harvest have yet to be released but yield and proceeds are likely to be down slightly due to drought, infestation, and a poppy ban enforced in the north and east of Afghanistan.
Μύ
Mr Costa says: "The money would be somewhat lower but not enormously."
Μύ
But he also explains that the last few years have seen abundant poppy harvests, with Afghan farmers cultivating more than global demand.
Μύ
"Last year Afghanistan produced about 8,000 tonnes of opium. The world in the past few years has consumed about 4,000 tonnes in opium," he says.
Μύ
"This leaves a surplus. It is stored somewhere and not with the farmers."
Μύ
It is not known whether these stockpiles are held by traffickers, corrupt Afghan officials and politicians, or the Taleban themselves, but they represent hundreds of millions of dollars.
Μύ
Opium does not deteriorate with age and holds its value. Mr Costa fears that if stockpiles are in the hands of terrorists they could be used to fund future activities.
Μύ
Sir Sherard Cowper-Coles, Britain's Ambassador to Afghanistan, is cautiously optimistic that the campaign against corruption and the narcotics trade has passed a tipping point, and those involved know their activities are not going to be tolerated forever.
Μύ
"We are at last starting to have success," he says. "It's a fragile success. We may only be at the beginning of a decades' long campaign but the underlying trends are moving in the right direction."
Μύ
Kate Clark reports from Afghanistan for Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4’s File on 4 (Tuesday, 24 June at 8pm).
Μύ
Μύ
PH
Μύ |
Printable version