Since ban

Opium prices in Afghanistan have increased tenfold

Afghanistan has long been considered the most important country of origin for the heroin raw material opium, which is extracted from the opium poppy.

(Bild: STR)

In Afghanistan, the price of opium has increased tenfold since the ban on poppy cultivation. The sharp rise in prices could cause significant setbacks in the fight against drug trafficking in the country.

In addition, according to the UN, opiate stocks were estimated to total 13,200 tons at the end of 2022 - enough to cover the demand for Afghan opiates until 2027 and further facilitate the trade.

Afghanistan was long considered the most important country of origin for the heroin raw material opium, which is extracted from the opium poppy. After the Islamist Taliban banned the cultivation of poppies in 2022 and destroyed large areas of crops, global opium production collapsed considerably, according to the UN.

The cultivation of poppies is considered particularly profitable in the country, which is plagued by war and poverty, and contributes to the survival of many farmers.

(Bild: APA/AFP/Sanaullah SEIAM)

690 euros per kilo
However, rising prices have ensured that the opium trade in the country remains profitable. According to the UN report, a kilo of opium cost 750 US dollars (around 690 euros) last year. In 2022, the price was still 75 dollars per kilo of opium.