TNAG-1709-FCO40-2384-Hong-Kong-narcotics-offences-and-drug-trafficking-1988 — Page 48

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Absence of any Kabul regime effort to reduce production;

Reported DRA encouragement of production among some tribes in exchange for their political

their political and military support of the regime;

Destruction of many economic resources affecting rural food production capacity which has caused many of those farmers who have not fled to turn to opium production which is a low investment, high-yield crop requiring relatively little field labor;

Heavy use by Soviet troops of illicit drugs, notably hashish, which has

which has stimulated a rise in both production and domestic trafficking;

Some individual members of the resistance have ignored strongly-held Mujahidin policy and have tolerated opium production; and

The increasingly successful Pakistani opium eradication campaign in the Northwest Frontier Province has made cultivation in Afghanistan relatively more attractive.

Little is known about

about the extent

extent of heroin production in Afghanistan although general assessments indicate a rise in production, particularly in the Kabul area, the principal international transportation hub. The relatively uncontrolled movement of commerce into Kabul and

and to Pakistan provides an easy environment for the import of chemicals required for heroin processing as well as a relatively unmonitored channel for shipment of the heroin abroad.

Since the Kabul UNFDAC office closed in. early 1986, regime contact with international organizations regarding narcotics control has been limited to periodic requests to the U.N. International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) for permission to sell allegedly "seized" opium abroad (usually to the Soviet Union). The regime's most

most recent request was in March 1987. The INCB did not approve the sale, noting that the regime had not formally submitted required annual statistics on drug seizures since December 1983.

INDIA

Summary. India continues to produce sizeable licit crops Although the GOI claims there is no illicit and negligible diversion from licit

licit production, estimates estimates indicate that both diversion and illicit

of opium.

production

unofficial

production

are substantial.

Routine

•

enforcement

efforts