AFGHAN POPPY BAN SPURS PRICES

Dealers in opium and heroin in Afghanistan say prices have risen
substantially since the Taleban decreed a ban on poppy
cultivation.

Afghanistan is the world's largest producer of opium. Most of it ends
up being sold as heroin on the streets of Europe.

There has been some discussion as to whether the ban will actually be
enforced, but those in the trade seem to believe it will be.

There was widespread scepticism at the end of last month when the
Taleban leader, Mullah Omar, issued an edict banning the cultivation
of poppies.

Earlier in the year, the UN threatened further sanctions against the
Taleban for a number of reasons, one of which was the continued
production of opium.

Many people pointed out that Mullah Omar's decree was timed to fall
before the UN's discussion on further sanctions.

Perception

It was thought that that by next year's sowing season the ban might
have been forgotten about.

But people in the drug trade are clearly taking the edict
seriously.

Since the ban was announced the price of wholesale opium has doubled
and the price of heroin has also risen sharply.

Some dealers have been paying farmers large sums of money now, in
return for a promise that they will break the law next year and sow
poppy seed.

Earlier in the year, Mullah Omar said there would be a one third cut
in production of opium.

Although there was some public bulldozing of fields near major
highways, the actual harvest rose significantly.

Hypocrisy

An outright ban will be much more difficult to flout.

Opium has been a difficult issue for the Taleban.

They have been accused of hypocrisy, claiming they run a pure Islamic
state, when they permit the production and taxation of a harmful drug.

The Taleban argue that Afghanistan is one of the poorest countries in
the world and farmers need international assistance to switch to other
crops.