Afghanistan Drugs Fact Sheet from the
Afghanistan Unit, FCO
THE PROBLEM
Elimination of opium production is a key challenge
for both the Afghan Government and the International Community.
It threatens the stability, reconstruction and licit economy of
Afghanistan as well as the security of the International Community.
The Berlin Conference in April 2004 (involving key international
donors) recognised the significance of tackling the drugs problem
for Afghanistan's long-term future.
In October 2003 the United Nations Office on
Drugs and Crime (UNODC) reported that opium farmers account for
7% of the total Afghan population of 24 million people. The UNODC
estimated that opium poppy cultivation covered 1% of total arable
land and less than 3% of irrigated arable land in Afghanistan,
but that poppy farmers and traffickers income was equivalent to
more than 50% of Afghanistan's estimated GDP. UNODC figures* for
the level of opium poppy cultivation and production in Afghanistan
for the last five years show the scale of the problem:
|
| Year | Hectares
| Tonnes |
|
| 1999 | 91,000
| 4,600 |
| 2000 | 82,000
| 3,300 |
| 2001 | 8,000
| 185 |
| 2002 | 74,000
| 3,400 |
| 2003 | 80,000
| 3,600 |
|
(*Source: UNODC Afghanistan Opium Survey 2003)
The Taliban (in power from 1998 until 2001) prohibited opium
poppy cultivation in 2000-01, hence the decline that year. Whilst
the ban may have reduced production it was enforced through a
mixture of threat and bribery and did nothing to address the underlying
causes of poppy cultivation in Afghanistan, and it is unlikely
it could have been sustained. The ban did not apply to trafficking
or processing—activities from which the Taliban profited.
This restriction of cultivation pushed up the price of opium,
further increasing the benefits to the Taliban through the increased
value of their substantial stockpiles.
Experience of eliminating opium poppy cultivation and production
in other countries, such as Pakistan and Thailand—which
were both more stable countries with much lower levels of production
than Afghanistan—shows it takes time. What is therefore
needed is a comprehensive, long term and sustainable approach.
WHAT IS
THE AFGHAN
GOVERNMENT DOING?
— President Karzai has consistently supported Afghan
counter narcotics initiatives, publicly committing the Afghan
Government to tackling opium production, the drugs trade, corruption
and involvement in drugs in Afghanistan.
— The Afghan National Drug Control Strategy (ANDCS)
was adopted in May 2003 and aims to eliminate opium poppy cultivation
by 2013.
— Action Plans to implement the ANDCS were agreed
at an International Counter Narcotics Conference on Afghanistan
in February 2004, and were endorsed at the Berlin Conference.
They focus on five key areas: developing alternative livelihoods
for Afghan poppy farmers; the extension of drug law enforcement
throughout Afghanistan; judicial reform to allow the implementation
of drug control legislation; the introduction of prevention and
treatment programmes for addicts; and improved public awareness.
— An Afghan Counter Narcotics Directorate, reporting
to the National Security Adviser was established in October 2002,
to develop Afghan policy and co-ordinate counter narcotics activity.
— A new Afghan Drug Law, compliant with the relevant
UN Drug Conventions, is now in effect.
WHAT IS
THE UK DOING?
— As well as causing instability within Afghanistan,
around 95% of heroin in the UK originates there. This is therefore
an important issue for the UK, and we support the objectives of
the ANDCS.
— The UK as lead nation on counter narcotics co-ordinates
the assistance of the International Community on counter narcotics
issues in Afghanistan.
— The UK is working alongside the Afghan Government
and UNODC to build up law enforcement, increase public awareness,
promote alternative livelihoods, and to build capacity in Afghan
counter narcotics institutions.
— As part of the UK's ongoing commitment to the
Afghan people we have announced an increase of our assistance
to at least £500 million over five years. This new pledge
includes at least £75 million per year for reconstruction,
at least £70 million over three years in assistance for counter-narcotics
and at least £50 million over three years in support of conflict
prevention projects. This represents an increase of 150% to our
original commitment made in Tokyo in 2002.
— The UK supports programmes led by other members
of the international community that complement Afghan counter
narcotic initiatives—such as the Italian Government's lead
on judicial reform, and the German lead on policing.
— In February 2004 the UK, UNODC and the Afghan
Government co-hosted the International Counter Narcotics Conference
on Afghanistan, which assessed achievements to date and developed
the five thematic Action Plans for the future.
THE AFGHAN
COUNTER NARCOTICS
STRATEGY
Law Enforcement—Interdiction
Afghan Policy: To inject commercial and physical risk into
the drugs trade in order to stem the export of opiates and disrupt
the internal market in Afghanistan.
Key Achievements:
— The Counter Narcotics Police Force of Afghanistan
(CNPA) was created as a specialist counter narcotics law enforcement
department of the Ministry of Interior in January 2003. CNPA units
have been established in Kabul, Jalalabad, Kandahar, Lashkar Gah,
Herat, Mazar-e-Sharif, Kunduz and Fayzabad.
— Establishment of a specialist anti-smuggling team
within the CNPA.
— Establishment of Afghan Special Narcotics Force
(ANSF) within the Ministry of Interior to conduct sensitive interdiction
operations.
Law Enforcement—Eradication
Afghan Policy: To raise the risk of illicit poppy cultivation
where farmers have access to alternative livelihoods.
Key Achievements:
— National eradication planning capacity established
within Ministry of Interior to target, monitor and evaluate the
Afghan led eradication campaign.
— A Central Poppy Eradication Force (CEPF) has been
established with US assistance.
Alternative Livelihoods
Afghan Policy: To develop the licit economy which will
create alternatives to poppy cultivation, especially in poor rural
areas.
Key Achievements:
— A National Solidarity Programme (NSP) has been
developed to support local governance structures, develop rural
infrastructure and provide income-generating opportunities for
vulnerable groups.
— A National Emergency Employment Programme (NEEP)
has been established to co-ordinate labour-intensive schemes providing
employment opportunities and restoring essential infrastructure.
— A Micro-finance Support Facility for Afghanistan
(MISFA) has been initiated to make micro-credit accessible to
the poor and promote micro-business opportunities as alternatives
to poppy.
— The Rebuilding Afghanistan's Agricultural Markets
Programme has been developed together with integrated rural rehabilitation
projects focused on: developing agriculture, off-farm business
and employment, credit and agri-processing in rural areas.
— The Research In Alternative Livelihoods Fund has
been set up to provide a competitive funding facility which promotes
the testing of innovative and practicable ideas and technologies
to create additional livelihood opportunities.
Demand Reduction
Afghan Policy: The creation of effective preventive and
treatment based initiatives mainstreamed into education, health
and law enforcement programmes to address the growth in domestic
drug consumption.
Key Achievements:
— The Counter Narcotics Directorate has established
a dynamic, broad-based Demand Reduction Working Group with support
from UNODC to bring together key Afghan Government Ministries,
relevant international organisations, and local NGOs active in
the field.
— A Drug Demand Treatment Centre has been established
in Kabul, focusing on community-based motivation, treatment and
rehabilitation.
Public Awareness
Afghan Policy: To maximise the impact of drug control interventions
by raising the perception of risk within Afghanistan, and to seek
additional international practical support towards counter narcotics
objectives in Afghanistan.
Key Achievements:
— The Counter Narcotics Directorate conducted a
national public awareness campaign.
— The Counter Narcotics Directorate website has
been launched.
— A drug awareness sticker campaign for children
has been piloted.
Afghanistan Unit
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
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