Afghanistan Times
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KABUL – Opium prices in Afghanistan have surged tenfold since the Taliban imposed a drug ban in 2022, reaching near-historic peaks and enriching organized crime syndicates, according to the latest UN data. The UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) reported that the price of one kilogram of opium soared to $750 in 2024, up from $75 in 2021, as reduced production and dwindling stockpiles drive up demand.
While the ban has led to a 50% decline in heroin and opium seizures since 2021, the UNODC warns that the skyrocketing prices are creating “massive profits” for high-level traders and transnational crime groups. Afghanistan, one of the world’s largest opium producers, still holds stockpiles of 13,200 tonnes, enough to meet global demand until 2027.
“The surge in opium prices and substantial stockpiles mean that drug trafficking in Afghanistan remains a highly profitable illicit trade,” said UNODC Executive Director Ghada Waly. She called for a coordinated counter-narcotics strategy to target trafficking networks while investing in sustainable economic alternatives for farmers.
The ban has left many farmers in financial distress, with only 30% holding small reserves of opium. Meanwhile, 60% of stockpiles are controlled by large traders, exacerbating inequality and instability. The UNODC also warned that the opium shortage could push buyers and sellers toward more dangerous synthetic opioids like fentanyl.
As Afghanistan grapples with economic collapse and humanitarian crises, the Taliban’s drug ban has created a paradox: while reducing production, it has fueled a lucrative black market that benefits crime syndicates and destabilizes the region.
