8am: The United Nations has reported in a recent assessment that the price of one kilogram of opium in Afghanistan has increased tenfold compared to previous years. The UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) stated in its report that following the Taliban’s ban on opium cultivation, the price of this substance has sharply risen, reaching $750 per kilogram. The report also highlighted that synthetic drugs have increased, and the decline in opium cultivation has posed significant challenges to the livelihoods of ordinary farmers. Meanwhile, sources indicate that senior Taliban officials are involved in the collection and storage of opium, and all major drug cartels are collaborating with them. Sources further confirm that currently, traffickers purchase and stockpile opium at prices ranging from 70,000 to 100,000 Afghanis per kilogram, depending on quality. Click here to read more (external link).