Experts Gather For UN Meeting To Tackle Flow Of Heroin From Afghanistan
United Nations officials and senior policy-makers from around the world are meeting today in Vienna to discuss how to
halt or reduce the rising flood of heroin being exported from Afghanistan.
The meeting, which has been organized by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime UNODC), will examine proposed border control
and law enforcement measures in countries along some of the major drug trafficking routes out of Afghanistan.
UNODC Executive Director Antonio Maria Costa said the production in Afghanistan of opium, which is used to make heroin
“has become a national security threat to the country” and to its neighbours.
“Heroin is sold locally, causing major addiction and the spread of HIV/AIDS,” Mr. Costa added, calling on all countries
to strengthen their measures against the scourge.
Last year opium production in Afghanistan reached an estimated 3,600 tons, an increase of 6 per cent over the previous
year sales and generated $1 billion for farmers and $1.3 billion for drug traffickers – or the equivalent of 52 per cent
of the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP).
At a meeting hosted by the French Government in May last year, 55 States and organizations launched the Paris Pact to
encourage greater cooperation between them on law enforcement and border control so that the trafficking of Afghan
heroin through West and Central Asia to Europe could be reduced. Already, several Central Asian countries have
introduced new border controls as a result.
Today’s meeting is also likely to consider a proposed database that would contain information on anti-drug measures and
country requests for assistance around the world.