Drugs Crime and Terrorism
5. The drugs scenario
In 2022, the Deputy Ministry of the Counter Narcotics Police (DM-CNP) under the Ministry of Interior (MoI) of the DfA assumed an additional role aiming to reduce drug demand by enforcing the implementation of the Decree on the “Prohibition of poppy cultivation and all types of narcotics” issued on 3 April 2022. Since then, the DM-CNP has focused on eradicating opium cultivation and reducing the production of other drugs, such as methamphetamine, while also referring people who use drugs to centres managed by the MoI or DTCs under the MoPH.
Quantifying opiate stocks is critical for anticipating possible disruptions to global heroin markets and assessing economic impacts in Afghanistan
Opium production within Afghanistan fell by some 95% in 2023 and remained very low for 2024, but not all that is produced makes its way to end markets in the same year.
The series on Afghanistan drug insights
The Afghanistan Drug Insights are a series of reports that provide latest data and in-depth analysis on aspects of the evolving drug situation in Afghanistan. This second volume provides the latest figures on national and regional opium poppy production in 2024 and the challenges farmers are facing as they adapt to new economic conditions. The remaining reports in the series will cover a range of topics related to the drug situation in Afghanistan, including the socioeconomic situation of farmers after the drugs ban; drug trafficking and supply; and treatment availability and drug use.
Key points
As a result of a reduction in production, the amount of opiates being trafficking out of Afghanistan has declined in recent years and it appears that less heroin is being processed in the country.
Opium cultivation in Afghanistan 2024: Poppy cultivation estimates after the second year of the enforced ban on drugs
Afghanistan currently sits at a crossroads. The illegal drug economy has traditionally been an important source of income across many segments of society, especially many rural farming households that are especially vulnerable to economic shocks. However, starting with the 2023 crop season, the de-facto Authorities of Afghanistan enforced a ban that virtually eliminated poppy cultivation across much of the country, drastically reducing the potential income of farmers from that year’s harvest.
4. Treatment options
Different institutions address various aspects of SUD treatment in Afghanistan. The MoPH is the primary responsible authority for leading, implementing and overseeing drug-related harm reduction19 and treatment programmes from de facto authorities in Afghanistan. Services like overdose management, OAT, and outreach are overseen by the Afghanistan National Program for Control of AIDS, STIs, and Hepatitis (ANPASH) under the MoPH, led by the Communicable Disease Control Programme (CDC). Drug treatment services, especially residential DTCs, for men, women, and children are overseen by the national Drug Demand Reduction Department (DDR).
Opium prices are at record highs
Dry opium prices in Afghanistan have increased on several occasions over the last four years. The long-running average was around US$75 per kilogram before the DfA took over.
Acknowledgements
This report was prepared by the Research and Trend Analysis Branch, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), supported by the UNODC Information Centre for Researching and Analysing Translational threats related to Drugs and Crime. It is part of a series of shorter reports for 2024 that detail several developments in Afghanistan.
The series on Afghanistan drug insights
The Afghanistan Drug Insights are a series of reports that provide the latest data and in-depth analysis on aspects of the evolving drug situation in Afghanistan. This fourth volume provides an assessment of drug seizure trends near Afghanistan and estimates potential opium stocks within the country by the end of 2022, just before the start of the ban. The remaining reports in the series will cover a range of topics related to the drug situation in Afghanistan, including the socioeconomic situation of farmers after the drugs ban, and druguse.
The series on Afghanistan drug insights
The Afghanistan Drug Insights is a series of reports that provide latest data and in-depth analysis on aspects of the evolving drug situation in Afghanistan. This first volume provides the latest figures on national and provincial opium poppy cultivation in 2024 and recent opium price developments. The remaining reports in the series will cover a range of topics related to the drug situation in Afghanistan, including opium production and rural development; the socioeconomic situation of farmers after the drugs ban; drug trafficking and supply; and treatment availability and drug use.
Acknowledgements
Minerals Crime: Crimes in the supply chains of critical energy transition minerals was prepared by the Research and Trend Analysis Branch, Division for Policy Analysis and Public Affairs, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), under the supervision of Candice Welsch, Director of the Division, and Angela Me, Chief, Research and Trend Analysis Branch, and the coordination of Anja Korenblik, Chief, Geospatial Analysis and Programme Delivery Section, Hatem Fouad Aly Mohamed, Regional Representative, UNODC Office for GCC Region.
Conclusion
The global push for decarbonizing the en-ergy sector, combined with technological advancements in areas such as defence, aerospace and digital infrastructure, has exponentially increased the demand for certain minerals (CETM), making CETM mining a vital economic and strategic activity.
Law enforcement challenges and responses
Law enforcement plays an essential role in tackling minerals crime, serving on the front line of efforts to disrupt criminal activities, enforce environmen-tal and labour regulations, and protect communities from violence, exploitation and environmental harm.
Views of the survey and analysis directorate of the counter Narcotics of the Deputy of Ministry of Interior on the UNODC opium poppy 2025 report
First of all, the Directorate of the Survey and Analysis of Narcotics thanks the esteemed UNODC office for preparing the report on opium poppy cultivation 2025 and sharing it with us and asking our views and comments on the report.
Acknowledgements
This report was prepared by the Research and Trend Analysis Branch, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), supported by the UNODC Information Centre for Researching and Analysing Translational threats related to Drugs and Crime. It is part of a series of shorter reports for 2024 that detail several developments in Afghanistan.
6. Methods
A structured survey of drug treatment facilities operating in Afghanistan was conducted in December 2022. This survey was based on discussions held with the Directorate of DDR from MoPH, as well as with civil society organizations (CSOs) involved in providing drug treatment services, and it covered all provinces in the country.
What does the opiate supply chain look like and why focus on stockpiles only within Afghanistan?
In rough terms, the opiate (opium and heroin) supply chain emanating from Afghanistan is shaped like an hourglass. That is, there are many cultivators, farmers, and labourers, such as lancers (the workers who cut the seedpods of mature poppies and collect opium gum), involved in poppy cultivation and opium production and many retailers of heroin in end markets.
Afghanistan drug insights volume 2: 2024 opium production and rural development
Opium production and the challenges faced by farmers after two years of reduced poppy cultivation
2. Main conclusions
The evolving drug market landscape in Afghanistan, influenced by recent drug policy changes, may further strain the already limited treatment options for drug rehabilitation, as documented in this report. Most of the treatment services in the country are provided by residential DTCs, which may not fully address the diverse treatment needs and the number of people in need of treatment in the country, which could benefit from integrated communitybased services tailored to less severe cases. Additionally, while women make up a substantial proportion of people using drugs in the country, over half of the facilities providing SUD treatment offer services exclusively for men. Moreover, only just above one-third of the provinces have facilities with services available for women.
Policy and programmatic implications
The continued trafficking of opium stocks funds transnational organized crime, calling for support of countries neighbouring Afghanistan to locate and liquidate opium stocks.
Acknowledgements
This report was prepared by the Research and Trend Analysis Branch, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), supported by the UNODC Information Centre for Researching and Analysing Translational Threats Related to Drugs and Crime.
Overview of criminal activities in CETM supply chains
Criminal activities in CETM supply chains are difficult to categorize and current knowledge remains limited. This is due to several factors: the complexity and diversity of supply chains, the physical and geographical differences among minerals, the relatively recent develop-ment of many mining projects, and the limited international attention to the role of crime in responsible mining discourse.
Environmental and social harms linked to regulatory vulnerabilities
Mining is a harmful practice for the envi-ronment, with serious repercussions for the health of both human populations and surrounding ecosystems.
Why ground information is essential to opium poppy monitoring
Afghanistan’s diverse topography, ranging from the mountainous terrain of Badakhshan to the arid plains of Helmand, creates varying environmental conditions that affect how poppy fields appear in satellite imagery.
Worsening humanitarian situations from climate change, water management and migration in rural areas
The 2024-25 season in Afghanistan has inflicted severe hardships on rural communities.
Developments in the opiate and methamphetamine markets
An analysis of available drug seizure and price data in and around Afghanistan show clearly that regional opiate markets continue to experience supply disruptions due to declining opium production.
Opium poppy cultivation and opium production in Afghanistan 2025
Starting with the 2023 crop season, the De facto Authorites in Afghanistan enforced a nationwide narcotic ban that forbade production, trafficking and use of any form of drugs.