Anoussa Salim
Afghanistan is the largest producer of opium; it has long been the center of the global narcotics trade. The region has seen numerous attempts to contain drug farming and trafficking, but the deficits in political stability and international demand perpetuate the cycle. The drug trade not only finances conflict groups but also saps Afghanistan’s sociocultural and economic development, creating a complex web of issues for the country. According to reports by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Afghanistan is responsible for producing around 80-90% of the world’s opium. The southern and eastern regions that are often affected by the Taliban and other insurgents, such as Helmand, Kandahar, and Nangarhar, are known to cultivate the opium poppy plant. This black cash economy fuels terrorism, political corruption, and transnational organized crime, generating billions of dollars every year. Afghanistan’s reliance on opium production has severely undermined its geopolitical relationships, entrenching the nation in a cycle of economic dependency, political instability, and international isolation.
In addition, many farmers were turning to Opium farming to survive economically after the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan. Farmers’ income from opium sales tripled from “$425 million in 2021 to $1.4 billion in 2022”. Heroin is one of the central pillars of its supply, and the country has long been at the forefront of the international drug market as a supplier of opiates. While Afghanistan has been notorious for its production of opiates, in recent years, it has become an increasingly significant producer of methamphetamine as well. According to the UNODC, methamphetamine trafficking in Afghanistan and neighboring countries is surging, with a twelvefold increase in seizures of the drug in five years from “2.5 tons in 2017 to 29.7 tons in 2021.” This shift focuses on the global market for synthetic drugs in addition to the burgeoning infrastructure for meth production inside Afghanistan. Despite attempts to curb opium cultivation, the Taliban’s resurgence and the shift toward synthetic drug production have further destabilized regional security and hindered international cooperation.
In early February 2025, Tajikistan authorities seized a substantial 121 kilograms of methamphetamine in transit from Afghanistan to China. One of the largest seizures in recent years indicates the ongoing and complex problem of drug trafficking in Central Asia, particularly concerning the production and transit of illegal narcotics emanating from Afghanistan. Zafar Samad, the head of Tajikistan’s Drug Control Agency, emphasized that the production of synthetic drugs in Afghanistan has significantly increased by 59% in 2024 compared to previous years. According to reports from the Tajik authorities, the operation was part of a broader effort to curb drug trafficking across the region. Unlike opiates, which require substantial cultivation of raw materials (such as poppy plants), methamphetamine production can be carried out in more clandestine, mobile laboratories, making it harder to detect and dismantle.
The implications of the drug trade in Afghanistan are felt far beyond the country’s borders. Recently, Tajikistan’s President Emomali Rahmon has expressed his concern about the increasing threats of terrorism and drug trafficking from Afghanistan. Drug trafficking is often linked to organized crime, insurgency groups, and terrorism, which destabilize entire regions. In February 2024, DCA official Mukbilsho Muyassar addressed the issue, stating that despite reports of a 95% decrease in opium cultivation and production in Afghanistan, opioids such as heroin and opium, along with Afghan-made methamphetamine, continue to flow into Tajikistan. In Central Asia, the flow of narcotics has fueled corruption, undermined local governance, and contributed to growing insecurity. Countries like Tajikistan have faced increasing challenges in combating drug smuggling, often with limited resources and a lack of practical regional cooperation. The illicit drug trade fuels corruption, and strains Afghanistan’s diplomatic ties with neighboring countries like Tajikistan, China, and Russia, which struggle to contain the flow of narcotics.
China has seen a surge in demand for synthetic drugs in recent years, with methamphetamine becoming particularly widespread. According to Chinese law enforcement officials, they have grown increasingly concerned about the inflow of heroin and other illegal drugs from Afghanistan and the broader “Golden Crescent” region into western China’s Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR). The country’s proximity to Afghanistan makes it an ideal destination for smuggled drugs, and the Chinese government has responded with aggressive anti-drug policies and efforts to intercept trafficking routes. A Chinese official at a UNODC conference in 2024 stated, “We must cooperate with all international partners to effectively combat the transnational nature of the drug trade and ensure that our region remains safe from the threats of illicit narcotics.” If Afghanistan remains a primary producer of methamphetamine, China will likely continue to face significant challenges in curbing the influx of synthetic narcotics. Without a comprehensive strategy involving global partnerships, economic alternatives for farmers, and stricter enforcement measures, Afghanistan’s geopolitical standing with China will continue to deteriorate under the weight of its narcotics-driven economy.
In April 2022, the Taliban announced a ban on opium production in Afghanistan. However, the influx of other synthetic drugs like methamphetamines indicates that the group may be involved in or turning a blind eye to the drug trade. Afghanistan will always be labeled as a drug-producing country without adequate law enforcement and international collaboration. The drug trade challenges stemming from Afghanistan continues to wreak havoc, which is evident from the seizure of 121 kilograms of meth in Tajikistan. The increasing demand for synthetic drugs, along with Afghanistan being a producer and transit hub, is worsening the situation for the Central Asian countries and the rest of the world. Afghanistan requires a comprehensive solution to the drug problem, with substantial international aid, law enforcement, governance, and enhanced control across the region.
Anoussa Salim is the director and United Nations representative for Soulchi, a U.N. Global Compact member organization.
