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Taliban Move to Ban Opium Production in Afghanistan
Wall Street journal ^ | 8-28-21 | Sune Engel Rasmussen, Zamir Saar and James Marson

Posted on 08/31/2021 6:37:32 PM PDT by dynachrome

Edited on 08/31/2021 6:52:39 PM PDT by Sidebar Moderator. [history]

Taliban leaders, seeking international acceptance after seizing power in Afghanistan, have told farmers to stop cultivating opium poppies, residents of some major poppy-growing areas say. This has caused raw opium prices to soar across the country.

In recent days, Taliban representatives began telling gatherings of villagers in the southern province of Kandahar, one of the country’s main opium-producing regions, that the crop—a crucial part of the local economy—would now be banned.

This followed a statement by Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid at an Aug. 18 news conference in Kabul that the country’s new rulers won’t permit the drug trade. Mr. Mujahid at the time didn’t offer details of how the Islamist group intends to enforce the ban.

Local farmers in Kandahar, Uruzgan and Helman provinces said raw opium prices have tripled, from about $70 to about $200 per kilogram, due to uncertainty about future production. In the northern city of Mazar-e-Sharif, the opium price has doubled, residents there said. Raw opium is processed into heroin.

The Taliban have long been one of the narcotics industry’s top beneficiaries, using taxation of the drug business to finance their 20-year insurgency, Western governments say. Afghanistan accounts for some 80% of the world’s illicit opiates exports, and the poppy-planting season starts in about a month.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: afghanistan; drugtrafficking; fakenews; gwot; heroin; isi; jamesmarson; kandahar; opium; rop; suneengelrasmussen; taliban; talibandrugs; terrorfinancing; wod; wsj; zamirsaar
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To: CJ Wolf

41 posted on 08/31/2021 8:07:51 PM PDT by TigersEye (I won't get vaxxed because it endangers Mitt Romney's life. )
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To: whitney69

I’m pretty sure that most opiates in the western world are entirely synthetic. Maybe not pure morphine, but hydrocodone/fentanyl, and oxymorphone don’t need natural ingredients.

I could be wrong, but I think that’s the case.


42 posted on 08/31/2021 8:12:46 PM PDT by Catfan15
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To: BipolarBob

Benadryl is a bit cheaper than heroin.
You can still get smack via Mexico.


43 posted on 08/31/2021 8:16:40 PM PDT by EEGator
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To: rellic

If you think only Democrats use drugs, you’re confused.


44 posted on 08/31/2021 8:17:15 PM PDT by EEGator
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To: patriot torch

I don’t know if he dabbles in heroin. His coke connections should be safe.


45 posted on 08/31/2021 8:17:48 PM PDT by gundog (It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen. )
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To: RockyTx

The ceased production previous to our invasion.
Highest yields ever during our occupation.


46 posted on 08/31/2021 8:18:58 PM PDT by EEGator
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To: dynachrome

The Bush/Clinton cabal will be taking a hit...


47 posted on 08/31/2021 8:19:37 PM PDT by Blue Collar Christian (I'm a nationalist.I'm white.How does that make me racist?)
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To: packagingguy

Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar. It’s still called that as far as I know.
I’m only mid 40’s.


48 posted on 08/31/2021 8:20:46 PM PDT by EEGator
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To: dynachrome

Color me skeptical.


49 posted on 08/31/2021 8:21:25 PM PDT by 2 Kool 2 Be 4-Gotten
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To: TigersEye

The 4 gender neutral latrines they left behind cost more then that Infographic details all together.


50 posted on 08/31/2021 8:22:41 PM PDT by CJ Wolf ( what is scarier than offensive words? Not being able to say them...God wins. Trump always wins. . )
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To: dynachrome

Taliban Move to Ban Opium Production in Afghanistan


Something G.W. Bush refused to do. Think about it.


51 posted on 08/31/2021 8:31:33 PM PDT by VTenigma (The Democrat party is the party of the mathematically challenged )
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To: EEGator

Smack? Doesn’t that stain your teeth or plug up your lungs? That’s no good. Besides it may be a gateway drug.


52 posted on 08/31/2021 8:35:02 PM PDT by BipolarBob (Biden: "I did it but it's Trumps fault".)
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To: EEGator

That’s it. The unnamed three letter agency ran herion from there.


53 posted on 08/31/2021 8:48:36 PM PDT by packagingguy (Kit)
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To: EEGator

I am skeptical of everything that
Clinton or Bush claim


54 posted on 08/31/2021 9:35:44 PM PDT by RockyTx
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To: dynachrome

Taliban is lying.....80-85% of the worlds opium comes from Afghanistan. They’ll never give it up.


55 posted on 08/31/2021 10:24:56 PM PDT by caww ( )
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To: Steve_Seattle

Right! The Taliban is part of the Afghan narco cartel. They force the farmers to grow opium or hashish.


56 posted on 09/01/2021 3:44:36 AM PDT by ViLaLuz (2 Chronicles 7:14)
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To: dynachrome

The Taliban farm opium on a predictable schedule so this is propaganda. Fun fact, the Taliban don’t fight during harvest season which is when Trump had the military scheduled to leave. Biden reversed that and ordered the US out during their fighting season.


57 posted on 09/01/2021 3:58:26 AM PDT by Vision (Elections are one day. Reject "Chicago" vote harvesting. Election Reform Now. Obama is an evildoer.)
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To: BipolarBob

LOL, just cook it on a spoon, load up the syringe, and chase that dragon…


58 posted on 09/01/2021 5:03:28 AM PDT by EEGator
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To: RockyTx

That’s a good starting point.


59 posted on 09/01/2021 5:03:55 AM PDT by EEGator
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To: caww

They did outlaw when they were in charge before 9/11.
Highest yields ever were when we were there.


60 posted on 09/01/2021 5:05:05 AM PDT by EEGator
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