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Narcotic trackers say that an unwanted and unanticipated side-effect of the
Indo-Pak peace process that has increased foot, rail, and road traffic between
the two nations is the upsurge of smuggling of heroin from Afghanistan. UN
Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC) South Asia Representative Gary Lewis says
that there is a sharp increase in the number of civilians caught with heroin
and the estimated trafficking is now 1000 kilograms (kgs) up from 50 kgs just 5
years ago.
The UNODC World Drug Report for 2006 says that early indicators suggest that
Afghanistan is still the world’s largest opium producer and had 104,000
hectares under opium poppy during 2005—which is a 21% drop since 2001. Lewis
says “Afghanistan's drug situation remains vulnerable to reversal because of
mass poverty, lack of security, and the fact that the authorities have
inadequate control over its territory.” There is clear evidence that poppy
planting has increased in 2006, especially in the Southern Provinces where the
Taliban is still strong. In earlier form, Taliban used to use revenues from
narcotic sale to fund their operations and it is possible that they are
resorting to this well-tested method of self-financing. That would also explain
increased conflict in the South where the Taliban is on an upswing with better
arms and more cadres.
Lewis says that “Some of this produce is leaking out into neighboring South
Asian countries, and Delhi is a primary exit venue either via direct flights
out of Kabul or through Pakistan” and “A significant quantum of what moves into
India is used here.”
A national survey organized by All India Institute of Medical Sciences Chief
of Psychiatry Rajat Ray estimated a 2.3 million regular cannabis and 500,000
opiate addict population. Ray says that “These numbers show people who are
dependent and need help. The actual numbers who have taken illicit substances
at least once is much larger.” Drug addiction among youngsters in Punjab was on
the rise, and this was due to the flow of heroin and other drugs into the State
from Pakistan.
Indian narcotics officials agree that seizures from heroin sourced in
Afghanistan has increased from 12% five years ago to 35% and that the seizures
generally take place in Punjab, Jammu & Kashmir, and New Delhi. Indian
Government sources say that while 170,000 people have crossed the Indo-Pakistan
Line of Control this year and majority over controlled transportation means
like planes, trains, or buses, about 28,000 have just walked across the border
at Wagah.
Lewis acknowledges that Indian and Pakistani officials are working out walks
to tackle the issue and that the majority of opiates (heroin, morphine, and
opium) takes place in countries near Afghanistan, South West Asia, South Asia,
and Central Asia. He also says that increased vigilance has resulted in
increased seizures “Internationally, law enforcement agencies are now taking
out about 24 per cent of opiates, compared with 10 per cent about a decade
ago.”
The UNODC report says that is concerned with the alarming rise and prevalence
of cocaine consumption in Western Europe.
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