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
Teenage TikTok Star's Killing Sparks Outrage Over Violence Against Women In Pakistan
2As US Ends Protected Status For Afghans, Thousands Face Deportation And Persecution
3The Taliban's Latest Target? Religious Scholars Who Speak Out
4Afghan Female Athletes Flee Taliban Only To Face New Hurdles In Pakistan
5UN Alarmed By Surge In Deportations Of Afghan Families From Iran
6Trump's Travel Ban Deals New Blow To 'Stranded' Afghans
7A Doctor's Mission To Help At-Risk Infants And Mothers In Rural Pakistan
8Unreliable Medical Tests Force Afghans To Seek Treatment Abroad
9Afghan Women Fear They Have Fallen Off West’s Radar Amid Global Conflicts, Aid Cuts
10Afghan Survivors Speak Out: What The Taliban Does To Imprisoned Women
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.