Afghanistan International: Abdul Zahir Qadir, former Deputy Speaker of Afghanistan’s parliament, has been arrested in Kenya and is facing extradition to the United States on charges related to drug trafficking and possession of heavy weaponry. According to The Nairobi Times, Qadir was apprehended at a hotel in Nairobi shortly after arriving in the country on
Amu: More than two years after the Taliban’s 2022 ban on narcotics, poppy cultivation levels in Afghanistan remain historically low, but opium continues to be grown, cultivated, and sold in some areas, according to a new report from the U.S. Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR). SIGAR also noted that while Afghanistan has seen
Afghanistan International: Ali Akbar Pourjamshidian, the Deputy Minister of Security and Police of the Islamic Republic of Iran announced that despite the Taliban’s ban on the cultivation of narcotics, the smuggling of these drugs to Iran continues. Pourjamshidian said that smugglers in Afghanistan continue to maintain their drug stockpiles. Click here to read more (external
Afghanistan International: The US Department of Justice announced that it has sentenced Abdul Sattar Barakzai, 59, to 30 years in prison for “participating in narcoterrorism for the benefit of the Taliban and the Haqqani Network.” Barakzai is also charged with importing heroin into New York and forging documents. He was found guilty after a two-week
Afghanistan International: Andrés Efren Montalvo Sosa, head of the UN Sanctions Committee said on Thursday (December 12) that a number of key Taliban officials are complicit in drug cartels and production and trafficking networks. However, according to Sosa, the Taliban leadership encourages ordinary Afghan farmers to cultivate alternatives. Click here to read more (external link).
Khaama: The increase in opium production in 2024 is concerning, especially in the context of international efforts to combat drug trafficking and addiction. The rise in opium value also suggests that the country’s drug trade remains a major challenge. Click here to read more (external link).
Tolo News: Iran’s Interior Minister, Eskandar Momeni, claimed that the production of methamphetamine in Afghanistan has increased significantly, which he considers a threat to Iran, the region, and the world. Momeni added that closing the border with Afghanistan is part of an effort aimed at preventing illegal entry and drug trafficking. The Iranian Interior Minister
Afghanistan International: Despite the Taliban’s official ban on poppy cultivation, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has reported a 19% increase in Afghanistan’s poppy cultivation for 2024 compared to the previous year. According to the United Nations, the Taliban have struggled to control poppy production effectively this year. Click here to read
8am: Over the past three years, the Taliban have repeatedly claimed to have eradicated drugs and tobacco in the country. However, findings from Herat province by Hasht-e Subh Daily reveal an increase in the buying and selling of hashish, with the market for hashish sellers thriving. This is despite a decree by Hibatullah Akhundzada banning
VOA News Ayaz Gul July 26, 2024 ISLAMABAD — New research suggests that poppy cultivation in Afghanistan will drop to record-low levels in 2024, due to the ban on the crop imposed by the Taliban government two years ago. The findings, released this week by Alcis, a geospatial analytics firm, are based on high-resolution satellite mapping