Taliban hide details of drug trade revenues amid Afghan financial crisis (Report)

The Taliban, who have historically been believed to be one of the richest militant groups in the world, have never disclosed details of the volume and revenues of drug trafficking as Afghanistan goes through severe crisis financial.
While involvement in drug trafficking has never been a secret to the Taliban, its dimension has never been fully understood. Although they have always been suspected of being one of the richest groups in the world, the Taliban never disclosed details of the volume and revenues of the drug trade which was fueling after two decades, said the Portal Plus in a new article.
According to Portal Plus, Afghanistan is the world’s largest producer of opium, which can be refined to make heroin. With an estimated annual export value of $ 1.5 billion to $ 3 billion, it is a huge business, making the country a major supplier of heroin to the world.
According to a UN estimate, the opium harvest provided nearly 120,000 jobs in Afghanistan in 2019. These volumes are acting like a cash cow for the Taliban in the form of several types of taxes and levies.
A 10% tax on crops from irrigated land used for opium poppy cultivation takes the lion’s share of drug revenues, according to Portal Plus.
Reports suggest that the Taliban’s total annual income was around $ 1.5 billion, of which the drug trade is estimated at around $ 420 million per year, while other sources say the drug trade is estimated to be around $ 420 million annually. drug accounts for up to 60% of total income, Portal Plus reported.
While drug trafficking has served the Taliban as a lifeline for the past two decades, the ruin it has brought to the ordinary citizens of Afghanistan cannot be overstated.
According to a 2017 study by the European Foundation for South Asian Studies (EFSAS), it reflects the extent of the illicit drug industry’s involvement in civilian life. He said that the interweaving of drug trafficking in Afghanistan shows its deep roots in society and in the lives of civilians.
About one in ten Afghans is engaged in the drug trade. Employment, however, often leads to dependency and debt traps, especially for people living in rural communities. The effects can be felt in the form of volatile income for families and a lack of formal alternatives, according to Portal Plus.
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) said in a recent report that the price of opium had recently increased. According to UNODC findings, Afghan opioid revenues amounted to US $ 1.8-2.7 billion in 2021 inside Afghanistan, but much larger profits are being made in chains. illicit drug supply outside the country.
Heightened political uncertainty in Afghanistan since August 2021 has pushed up opium prices, which nearly doubled in August compared to May, UNODC said, Tolo News reported.
(Only the title and image of this report may have been reworked by Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is automatically generated from a syndicated feed.)
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