$750 per kilogram of opium; UN reports unprecedented jump in opium prices in Afghanistan
The price increase, more than 10 times the 2022 rate, comes as Afghanistan's drug production has declined since the Taliban banned it.
The organization stresses that despite the decline in production, huge profits continue to go to big smugglers and organized crime networks, exacerbating instability in Afghanistan and the region.
According to the United Nations, by the end of 2022, Afghanistan's opium reserves are estimated at about 13,000 tons, which could supply the world market by 2027.
Experts warn that the low supply of opium could lead consumers and sellers to more dangerous synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl.
The UN also stressed that without sustainable economic solutions for farmers, the risk of a return to poppy cultivation remains serious.
The price of opium in Afghanistan has reached a historic high, with a kilogram of opium trading at $750 in 2024, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) said.
Farzana Ahmadi
Comments