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| Afghan opium production 'soars' | Afghan opium production 'soars' |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| Opium production in Afghanistan is soaring out of control, the annual UN report on illegal drugs says. | Opium production in Afghanistan is soaring out of control, the annual UN report on illegal drugs says. |
| The World Drug Report says more than 90% of illegal opium, which is used to make heroin, comes from Afghanistan. | The World Drug Report says more than 90% of illegal opium, which is used to make heroin, comes from Afghanistan. |
| It says cultivation of opium poppies increased dramatically in the country, despite the presence of more than 30,000 international troops there. | It says cultivation of opium poppies increased dramatically in the country, despite the presence of more than 30,000 international troops there. |
| The report says Afghanistan is unlikely to regain real security until the production of illegal drugs is tackled. | The report says Afghanistan is unlikely to regain real security until the production of illegal drugs is tackled. |
| Helmand plantations | Helmand plantations |
| In the 1980s, Afghanistan produced some 30% of the world's opium, but now that figure has more than tripled, the UN document says. | In the 1980s, Afghanistan produced some 30% of the world's opium, but now that figure has more than tripled, the UN document says. |
| Facts and figures SEE THE FULL REPORT 2007 World drug report[7.27MB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader | |
| It says that Helmand province alone cultivates almost half the world's illegal opium. | It says that Helmand province alone cultivates almost half the world's illegal opium. |
| Thomas Pietschmann, the report's author, says production in Helmand has now outstripped that of entire countries. | Thomas Pietschmann, the report's author, says production in Helmand has now outstripped that of entire countries. |
| "The province of Helmand itself is around 70,000 hectares under cultivation, which is three times the total area under cultivation in Myanmar (Burma). | "The province of Helmand itself is around 70,000 hectares under cultivation, which is three times the total area under cultivation in Myanmar (Burma). |
| "So only one province, three times as important as the whole of Myanmar, the second-largest opium-producing country," Mr Pietschmann says. | "So only one province, three times as important as the whole of Myanmar, the second-largest opium-producing country," Mr Pietschmann says. |
| The report says that while global co-ordination of drug law enforcement has improved, traffickers of heroin from Afghanistan and of cocaine from Colombia are now targeting new routes in Africa. | The report says that while global co-ordination of drug law enforcement has improved, traffickers of heroin from Afghanistan and of cocaine from Colombia are now targeting new routes in Africa. |
| The UN says this threat must be addressed immediately if Africa - already struggling under the burden of HIV/Aids, tuberculosis and malaria - is to avoid the serious health damage caused by drug abuse. | The UN says this threat must be addressed immediately if Africa - already struggling under the burden of HIV/Aids, tuberculosis and malaria - is to avoid the serious health damage caused by drug abuse. |
| The report also shows that the overall market for illicit drugs remained relatively stable in 2005-2006. | The report also shows that the overall market for illicit drugs remained relatively stable in 2005-2006. |