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We invaded Afghanistan--the world's largest producer of poppies for heroin and opium--in 2001. Production has also been on the rise since then. An interesting c
by knownothing 9y ago
We invaded Afghanistan--the world's largest producer of poppies for heroin and opium--in 2001. Production has also been on the rise since then. An interesting correlation.
- tyingq 9y agoMost sources I can find say that the vast majority of heroin in the US comes from Mexico and South America.
- knownothing 9y agoThe poppies used for heroin production can be grown in South America but most of it comes from Asia.
- tyingq 9y agoThat's not what I see looking at reasonable sources. See https://www.unodc.org/documents/wdr2015/World_Drug_Report_2015.pdf https://www.unodc.org/documents/wdr2015/World_Drug_Report_20... for example. The vast majority of worldwide poppy for opiates is Asia, but the US is unique in that most of the poppy source for their heroin is coming from Columbia and Mexico. It is odd. Canada, for example, gets most of it's heroin via Afghanistan. The size of the lines in this map from the above mentioned resource is relative to the actual production source...where the poppies are, and where they end up as heroin. Note the fat lines from the south, and the thin one from the east. http://i.imgur.com/hvYXYeQ.png http://i.imgur.com/hvYXYeQ.png
- knownothing 9y agoIt does seem that most heroin consumed in the US originates in Mexico currently. However it is true that Afghanistan helps supply most (as in <90%) of the world's heroin, and their production is much greater than Mexico and South America as well. > The vast majority of worldwide poppy for opiates is Asia, but the US is unique in that most of the poppy source for their heroin is coming from Columbia and Mexico. It is odd. I think this is a signal that Mexican cartels have monopolized American markets. Smaller unaffiliated players are more likely to use trans-Pacific supply chains. It also seems that the cartels have vertically integrated their operations such that they now grow opium poppies and aren't reliant on South American countries for raw materials.
- Fricken 9y agoOpium production was virtually eliminated in Afghanistan before we invaded, by the Taliban, whom we thanked for doing such great work. We also granted Afghanistan $43 million to help farmers no longer profiting off poppy fields through a drought. http://www.nytimes.com/2001/05/20/world/taliban-s-ban-on-poppy-a-success-us-aides-say.html http://www.nytimes.com/2001/05/20/world/taliban-s-ban-on-pop...
- knownothing 9y agoRight. Which is exactly what I said. Production has been on the rise since 2001.
- Fricken 9y agoI wasn't disagreeing, I was embellishing.
- knownothing 9y agoAh, I assumed the most pessimistic reading possible. Thanks for adding that!
- lowmagnet 9y agoI'm guessing it just moved to somewhere else in a big game of whack-a-poppy.
- wavefunction 9y agoThe cartels are growing it in Mexico now because they can't sell as much cannabis.