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Unodc

All articles tagged with #unodc

drugs2 years ago•3 min saved

Myanmar Surpasses Afghanistan as World's Largest Opium Producer

Myanmar has regained its position as the world's largest opium producer, surpassing Afghanistan, according to a report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). The estimated land used for opium cultivation in Myanmar increased by 18% to 47,100 hectares, with the opium yield expanding by 16%. The report attributes the increase to sophisticated cultivation methods and the economic and security disruptions caused by the country's political turmoil. The average price paid to opium growers also rose by 27%, indicating strong demand. The ongoing armed conflict in Myanmar's northeast is expected to further accelerate this trend.

via NBC News|

#drugs #golden-triangle #myanmar

drugs2 years ago•1 min saved

Myanmar Surpasses Afghanistan as World's Top Opium Producer: UNODC

Myanmar has surpassed Afghanistan as the world's largest source of opium, according to a report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). The decline in opium cultivation in Afghanistan, following a Taliban-imposed drug ban in 2022, has shifted global supply to Myanmar. The political, social, and economic instability caused by the 2021 coup in Myanmar has driven many farmers to turn to poppy farming. Opium cultivation areas have expanded in Myanmar's border regions, particularly in northern Shan State, Chin, and Kachin states. The surge in fighting between the Myanmar military and armed ethnic-minority groups is expected to further accelerate the expansion of opium cultivation.

via Reuters|

#afghanistan #drug-trade #drugs

world-news2 years ago•2 min saved

Taliban Ban on Poppy Cultivation in Afghanistan Leads to 95% Decline: UN

Poppy cultivation and opium production in Afghanistan have plummeted by over 90% since the Taliban banned the crop in April 2022, according to a UN report. Poppy cultivation has dropped by around 95%, while opium production has fallen from 6,200 tonnes to 333 tonnes. This has dealt a major blow to Afghan farmers, resulting in a staggering $1bn drop in revenue. While this decline could help combat the illicit opium trade, it also poses risks to a vulnerable population that relied on the poppy trade for their livelihood. Afghanistan continues to face a humanitarian crisis, with over 40% of the population suffering from acute food insecurity.

via Al Jazeera English|

#afghanistan #humanitarian-crisis #opium-cultivation

world2 years ago•2 min saved

Taliban's Drug Ban in Afghanistan Leads to 95% Drop in Opium Supply

Opium production in Afghanistan has plummeted by 95% since the Taliban banned poppy cultivation in April 2022, according to a UN report. Poppy cultivation dropped from 233,000 hectares to 10,800 hectares, and opium production decreased from 6,200 tons to 333 tons in 2023. Farmer's incomes have fallen by 92%, raising concerns about the impact on vulnerable rural communities. The UNODC warned of the potential for people involved in the opium industry to turn to other illegal activities. The ban on poppy cultivation could worsen the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, which has been exacerbated by the Taliban takeover and a drop in international aid deliveries.

via DW (English)|

#afghanistan #drug-ban #opium-production

economics2 years ago•1 min saved

Taliban's Poppy Ban Costs Afghan Farmers Over $1 Billion in Income

Afghan farmers have lost over $1 billion in income from opium sales after the Taliban banned poppy cultivation, causing a 95% crash in opium cultivation. The ban has had far-reaching consequences for the country, as opiate exports accounted for a significant portion of Afghanistan's GDP. The UNODC has called for urgent humanitarian assistance and investment in sustainable livelihoods to help Afghans transition away from opium. The downturn, coupled with the halt of international financing, is driving people into poverty, hunger, and addiction, while also fueling the growth of other illegal activities such as arms and drug trafficking.

via Yahoo News|

#afghanistan #economics #opium

drugs-and-crime2 years ago•1 min saved

Taliban's Ban on Opium Poppy Causes 95% Plummet in Afghanistan's Supply - U.N.

Opium poppy production in Afghanistan has plummeted by 95% since the Taliban banned its cultivation last year, according to a United Nations report. Opium cultivation fell to just 10,800 hectares in 2023 from 233,000 hectares the previous year, significantly reducing the global supply. This decline could have major consequences for the Afghan economy, as the value of poppy exports had at times exceeded that of all formal exported goods. While the decrease in opium supply may lead to a drop in international opium use, it also risks increasing the use of alternatives such as fentanyl or synthetic opioids. The UNODC called for investment in sustainable livelihoods to provide Afghan farmers with alternative opportunities.

via Reuters|

#afghanistan #drug-production #drugs-and-crime

drugs2 years ago•1 min saved

Meth trafficking fuels booming cocaine market, says U.N. report.

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has reported that cocaine demand and supply are at record highs globally, with methamphetamine trafficking expanding beyond established markets. The report also suggests that Afghanistan is now producing methamphetamine, and questions remain regarding the linkages between the illegal manufacture of heroin and methamphetamine in the country. While cocaine seizures have grown faster than production, containing the total supply to some extent, the global number of cocaine users is growing steadily.

via AOL|

#afghanistan #cocaine #drugs

drugs2 years ago•1 min saved

Meth trafficking fuels booming cocaine market, says U.N. report.

via Yahoo News|

#afghanistan #cocaine #drugs

human-rights2 years ago•2 min saved

Iran's Executions Surge to Spread Fear, Says Rights Group.

Executions in Iran increased by 75% in 2022, with at least 582 hangings documented by human rights organizations. The report suggests that the death penalty is being used as a tool of intimidation and oppression by the Iranian regime to maintain its power and instill fear in the population. The majority of executions were for criminal reasons, but the death penalty is also being used against ethnic and religious minorities. Security forces have been accused of deliberately blinding protesters and using combat weapons against demonstrations. The UNODC has been criticized for its lack of response to the situation.

via Euronews|

#executions #human-rights #iran

drugs2 years ago•2 min saved

U.N. reports record high global cocaine production.

Global cocaine production has reached a record high, increasing by 35% between 2020 and 2021 due to expansion in coca bush cultivation and improved techniques in making cocaine, according to a report from the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC). The main markets for cocaine remain in the Americas and Europe, but there is potential for expansion in Asia and Africa. New hubs for cocaine trafficking are emerging in Southeastern Europe and West and Central Africa, with North Sea ports overtaking traditional entryways to Europe. Law enforcement has intercepted a record 2,000 tons of cocaine in 2021.

via CBS News|

#cocaine #drugs #global-production

crime2 years ago•3 min saved

Global Cocaine Production Reaches Record High Amid Pandemic Retreat.

South American drug cartels have increased their production and smuggling of cocaine to record levels since the retreat of the Covid-19 pandemic. The production of coca, the drug's base ingredient, has spiked 35% in 2020-21, surpassing pre-pandemic levels, according to a report from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). Despite record cocaine seizures of nearly 2,000 tons in 2021, anti-narcotics efforts have only slowed down the growth of cocaine smuggling as it continues to meet the rapacious global demand for the drug. Cartels are also devising new routes to avoid the watchful eye of anti-narcotics agents and are looking to expand into nascent but rapidly growing markets such as Asia and Africa.

via The Guardian|

#cocaine #crime #drug-cartels