The U.S. Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) has reported the existence of opium stockpiles in Afghanistan, stating that no action has been taken to destroy these large caches of opium.
In a report published on August 23, SIGAR notes that while satellite images show a significant reduction in opium poppy cultivation in Afghanistan, thousands of tons of opium have been stockpiled by traders and landowners.
According to the report, approximately 165,067 metric tons of opium are stored in Afghan traders’ warehouses, and no specific measures have been taken to uncover and destroy these opium reserves.
SIGAR has indicated that the storage of opium and the lack of a specific plan to eliminate it have led to a doubling of opium prices and hoarding by opium traders.
The SIGAR report highlights that the “value of stored opium” has increased, reducing the number of small-scale farmers and significantly boosting the wealth and purchasing power of landowners with substantial opium reserves.
Meanwhile, the Taliban administration has been preventing opium poppy cultivation in various provinces, especially in the northeastern region, since April 2022, after the decree was issued banning opium poppy cultivation.
However, the Taliban officials have not yet commented on the issue of opium reserves in Afghanistan.
The ongoing situation underscores a significant challenge in Afghanistan’s fight against the opium trade. Despite efforts to curb cultivation, the accumulation of large opium stockpiles and the lack of effective measures to address this issue reveal a gap in the overall strategy.
Addressing these stockpiles and implementing comprehensive plans to dismantle them will be crucial in tackling the opium crisis and achieving long-term stability in the region.
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