The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has estimated that opiate trafficking, primarily heroin, from Afghanistan through Central Asia to Russia generates approximately $10 billion in gross annual revenue. The report, released on Thursday, June 26, 2025, draws on data from 2022 and 2023, identifying Afghanistan as a primary hub for narcotics production, particularly heroin. The UNODC noted that precise data on the global drug market remains unavailable, but Afghanistan’s drug trade reflects a significant revenue stream.
According to the report, “In 2021, the last year for which data is available for Afghanistan, the potential export value of opiates was estimated to be between approximately $1.7 billion and $2.6 billion.” The UNODC also highlighted patterns of drug use in Afghanistan, stating that women typically begin addiction with opium, while men are more likely to start with cannabis. Globally, the report indicates that 316 million people used at least one type of narcotic in 2023.
Despite a relative decline in opium cultivation in Afghanistan in recent years, the UNODC emphasized that farmers continue to cultivate opium. This persistence contrasts with claims by the Taliban, who assert they have eradicated opium cultivation in the country. The report underscores the ongoing challenges in addressing the narcotics trade originating from Afghanistan.
You can read the Persian version of this news here:
سازمان ملل: قاچاق مواد افیونی از افغانستان حدود ۱۰ میلیارد دالر درآمد ناخالص سالانه ایجاد میکند
