GOLDEN TRIANGLE'S OPIUM OUTPUT 'ERADICATED'

UN Hails Untold Success Story but Urges Vigilance. Study Reveals 22%
Cut in Worldwide Poppy Growth

Opium poppy cultivation has been almost eradicated in Asia's Golden
Triangle, the border zone between Burma, Thailand and Laos that was
once the world's most prolific supplier of opium, according to a
report published by the United Nations yesterday. The area of land
being used for poppy farming has fallen by 22% worldwide, reflecting
declines in the world's three biggest producers of opium: Afghanistan,
Burma and Laos.

The UN's 2006 World Drug Report described south-east Asia as an
"overlooked success story", where governments had succeeded in
slashing poppy cultivation. Laos, once the world's third biggest
heroin producer, declared itself free of poppy cultivation in
February. It used a "carrot and stick" approach, striking agreements
with farmers to stop growing poppies or risk seeing their fields
destroyed. The Burmese government reduced the area under cultivation
by 26% to 32,800 hectares (13,300 acres) last year.

But the report warned: "Sustaining these remarkable achievements may,
however, largely depend on the availability of socio-economic
alternatives for the farmers who have given up a source of their
livelihood."

In an illustration of the difficulties, it emerged that even as the
report was being published, new figures indicated a resurgence of
poppy farming in Laos. Since February, an estimated 2,500 hectares
have been brought back under poppy cultivation, driven by an opium
price that has increased by 5% this year to $550 (UKP303) a kilo.

"The situation remains fragile, especially in the more vulnerable
remote northern locations," said Antonio Maria Costa, executive
director of the UN's Office on Drugs and Crime. "We need to ensure
that this victory against drugs proves to be lasting."

In Afghanistan, the area of land under poppy cultivation fell last
year for the first time since 2001, but the country still accounts for
89% of global production. The report said: "Within a few years, Asia's
notorious Golden Triangle, once the world's narcotics epicentre, could
become opium-free. But in Afghanistan, while the area under
cultivation decreased in 2005, the country's drug situation remains
vulnerable to reversal."

The UN report also revealed that ecstasy seizures have surged. Global
seizures of the drug, which is mainly manufactured in Europe, passed
eight tonnes in 2004, up from less than five in 2003. Global cocaine
seizures reached a record high in 2004, up to 588 tonnes. The increase
was the result of better cooperation between law enforcement agencies
and the improved sharing of intelligence, the report said.

The area of coca cultivation in Colombia had been increasing, despite
sustained US-backed eradication efforts since 2000. Colombia accounts
for 54% of coca cultivation globally, followed by Peru (30%) and
Bolivia (16%), according to the study.

Most cocaine continues to be used in the Americas, particularly North
America, which accounts, with 6.5 million users, for almost half the
global market, according to the report.

Cocaine use in Europe is rising. Almost 25% of cocaine users are in
west and central Europe, the UN study said.

Consumption of cannabis, the most widely used illicit drug, continued
to increase. An estimated 162 million people used cannabis in 2004.

Assessing the range of illicit drugs, from heroin to cocaine as well
as marijuana, amphetamines and ecstasy, the report concluded: "Drug
control is working and the world drug problem is being contained."
Levels of cultivation and addiction are much lower than they were 100
years ago, it said.