Despite its own figures showing the Taliban had cut Afghanistan's heroin production by about 95%, the report claimed that heroin had "financed the former Taliban regime".
The UN International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) report, released on 26 February, said that Afghanistan produced 3,400 tonnes last year, up from 185 tonnes in 2001.
While the US report praised US-backed Afghan president Hamid Karzai for the measures he has introduced to cut heroin production, the UN report said his two executive orders had no practical impact.
Growing problem
The Pentagon and the State Department are reportedly split over how heroin production should be tackled in the country.
While the Pentagon insists that the military operations in Afghanistan should be limited to fighting terrorists, while the State Department thinks armed forces should tackle opium production.
The US report also praised Pakistan for "excellent" co-operation with US anti-drugs efforts.
Last week the head of Pakistan's Anti-Narcotics Force, Major General Zafar Abbas, said that heroin production in Afghanistan this year is expected to reach more than 4,000 tonnes.
Russian guards patrolling Afghanistan's 1,340-kilometre border with Tajikistan, the main transport route for Afghan drugs to European markets, have seized 1.5 tonnes of heroin already this year.|||
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Globally
Use of Synthetic Drugs on Rise
A United Nations report shows that designer drugs such as ecstasy are
enjoying rising popularity among young people throughout the world.
"Synthetic drugs like ecstasy could become the main illicit drugs of the
future," the UN's International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) said in its
annual report. "The INCB has therefore launched a major initiative to stop
the chemicals needed to make synthetic drugs such as ecstasy from reaching
clandestine laboratories where they are made.
The report shows that Afghanistan is once again the top producer of
opium used for heroin. In 2001, after the U.S. forced the Taliban out of
government, the U.N. was hopeful that personal loans would encourage
farmers to plant legal crops.|||
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