FEARS OVER AFGHANISTAN HEROIN HITTING UK MARKET

The resurgence of Afghanistan as the world's largest opium producer is
threatening government efforts to curb the supply of heroin to Britain's
streets.

The warning by senior United Nations officials and Whitehall insiders
fuelled doubts about government claims that tougher law enforcement was
reducing the availability of hard drugs.

The Home Office released figures yesterday showing the number of seizures of
Class A drugs in 2001 rose by 10 per cent, with heroin hauls rising by 16
per cent.

Caroline Flint, Home Office minister, said the figures reflected law
enforcement efforts aimed at breaking up the wholesaler middle drugs market,
street dealers and specific premises known to be supplying to communities.

"I am particularly pleased that the drugs which do most harm to society are
being stopped in greater quantities. By preventing these drugs reaching our
streets our law enforcement agencies are making a difference to the
communities, families and individuals whose lives are blighted by drugs," Ms
Flint said.

But according to Drugscope, the leading drugs charity, the relative
stability in the street price of hard drugs over the past three years
suggests the increase in seizures is having limited impact on availability.

"There has clearly been a ratcheting up of police activity, but the reality
is that hard drugs continue to be readily available on the streets and
prices have not been affected," said Roger Howard, the charity's chief
executive.

He also called for a stronger emphasis on education and treatment of drug
users.

Meanwhile, Antonio Maria Costa, head of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime,
has warned that a target set by the west to eliminate drug production in
Afghanistan by 2013 has been put at risk by continuing insecurity in the
country. According to UN estimates, the area under poppy cultivation rose to
74,000 hectares last year yielding 3,400 tonnes, compared with negligible
levels in 2001.

Although some of the production is already being absorbed in the region,
including the former Soviet republics, the figures - likely to be followed
by a similar harvest this year - suggest that Afghan heroin is poised once
again to flood the European market, putting further pressure on UK law
enforcement agencies.

Afghan drug barons outside the capital of Kabul have managed to evade or
ignore a cash-for-crop eradication programme launched in April last year.

Tony Blair, the prime minister, pointed to the opportunity of eradicating
opium production in Afghanistan, which accounted for 90 per cent of the
European heroin trade during the Taliban years, when justifying military
involvement in the region post September 11.