Pubdate: Fri, 08 Jun 2001
Source: Associated Press (Wire)
Section: Washington Dateline
Copyright: 2001 Associated Press
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/27
Author: Ken Guggenheim, Associated Press Writer

DEA OFFICIAL SAYS AFGHAN OPIUM PRODUCTION IS FALLING

WASHINGTON - After initial skepticism, U.S. officials now believe that 
Afghanistan's opium production has fallen sharply under a ban by the ruling 
Taliban militia, a Drug Enforcement Administration official said Friday.

But concerns remain about how much opium poppy is already stockpiled in 
Afghanistan and how long the Taliban will enforce the ban, said Steven 
Casteel, the DEA's assistant administrator for intelligence.

Last year, Afghanistan produced nearly 75 percent of the world's opium, the 
raw material for heroin. Most of that was sold in Europe.

But in July, the Taliban banned poppy production. The Islamic militia 
controls 95 percent of Afghanistan.

U.N. inspectors concluded in March that almost all the plants had been 
eliminated, but U.S officials were wary of Taliban claims.

"In the past they have been pretty good at playing the pea under the shell 
game - saying laboratories were being dismantled ... and then we find out 
they popped up someplace else," Casteel said.

Casteel said international inspectors following up the U.N. mission 
confirmed that poppy had been eradicated. That was backed up by some 
preliminary satellite images, he said.

"I am comfortable from a law enforcement perspective that there has been a 
significant decrease in opium poppy cultivation in Afghanistan," he said.

Despite the decrease, Afghan opium remains widely available, though at much 
higher prices, Casteel said. He said Afghanistan may have stockpiled enough 
opium to meet its share of the world market for two or three years.

A U.N. report last month accused the Taliban of using its supplies of opium 
and heroin to finance its war against northern rebels and to train 
terrorists. A Taliban official countered that most of the drugs were in 
areas controlled by the opposition.

Casteel said another concern is whether Afghan farmers will resume 
cultivating opium.

He noted because the ban was based on religion, the Taliban would have a 
hard time allowing production in the future.

"My belief is that because they're backed into a corner, they're going to 
have to give a fairly significant attempt to make this work," he said.

But he noted that farmers will need to make up for the lost income. Other 
nations will have to help with crop substitution programs, he said.

"You've got to be prepared not just to pat them on the back and say 'good 
job,' but to go in there and support them somehow," he said.

The Taliban have come under international criticism for its hardline 
interpretation of Islam. It has prohibited most girls from going to school 
and destroyed ancient statues, including two giant Buddhas. The U.N. 
Security Council has imposed sanctions on the Taliban to pressure them to 
turn over suspected terrorist Osama bin Laden for trial.
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