Afghanistan: Drug Trafficking and the 2014 Transition

"Afghanistan is the world’s primary source of opium poppy cultivation and opium and heroin

production, as well as a major global source of cannabis (marijuana) and cannabis resin (hashish).

Drug trafficking, a long-standing feature of Afghanistan’s post-Taliban political economy, is

linked to corruption and insecurity, and provides a source of illicit finance for non-state armed

groups. Based on recent production and trafficking trends, the drug problem in Afghanistan

appears to be worsening—just as the U.S. government finalizes plans for its future relationship

with the government of Afghanistan in 2015 and beyond and reduces its counternarcotics

operational presence in the country to Kabul, the national capital.."Afghanistan & Drug Trafficking