Afghanistan can't stop heroin supply

Beijing News.Net
Monday 3rd September, 2007

Afghanistan's first vice-president has called for tougher penalties for opium poppy cultivation, including aerial spraying.

Ahmad Zia Masood says British efforts to combat opium production in southern Afghanistan have completely failed, yet the U.K and the United States had spent millions of dollars to stop the trade.

Mr Masood pointed out that Helmand, in southern Afghanistan, where the British are based, has enormous poppy fields, allowing the province to produce half of Afghanistan's opium.

United Nations' figures released last week showed opium production rose by 34 per cent this year in Afghanistan.

The UN has revealed Afghanistan's opium crop has risen every year since US-led and Afghan forces toppled the Taliban government in 2001.

Opium poppies are used to make heroin, which outlawed Taliban forces are able to sell for enormous profits.

Have your say on this story