Despite the Taliban's ban on narcotics, Afghanistan's opium cultivation rose by 32 percent in 2022 under the militants' rule. According to an annual report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), released on November 1, opium prices have also soared since the Taliban banned opium cultivation in April. Income made by farmers more than tripled from the previous year to $1.4 billion in 2022, making it "the most profitable in years." For a copy of the report this article was based on, click here.
Despite Ban, Afghanistan's Opium Harvest Jumps Under Taliban
- By RFE/RL
Editors' Picks
Afghanistan/Pakistan Trending
1
After Key Report On Afghanistan, State Department Says Taliban Was Keeping Aid
2A Star Gone Missing: Afghan Singer Vanishes In Country Where Music Is Forbidden
3Iran-Israel Conflict Puts Pakistan's Diplomatic Balancing Act To The Test
4Taliban's Closure Of Women's Shelters Leaves Afghan Women Vulnerable To Abuse
5Bad Move: Taliban's Chess Ban Adds To Crackdown On Sports And Pastimes
6US Court Temporarily Halts Bid To End Protection Status For Afghans
7UK Data Leak Spurs Costly Afghan Resettlement And Security Fears
8Taliban Restrictions Blamed For Surge In Suicides Among Afghans
9An Afghan Singer, Once Propelled To Fame On TV Show, Goes Missing In Kabul
10Afghan Expert Says Sudden Cutoff In US Aid Has Hit The Vulnerable Hard
RFE/RL has been declared an "undesirable organization" by the Russian government.
If you are in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine and hold a Russian passport or are a stateless person residing permanently in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine, please note that you could face fines or imprisonment for sharing, liking, commenting on, or saving our content, or for contacting us.
To find out more, click here.