Pubdate: Fri, 7 Jan 2000 Source: Times, The (UK) Copyright: 2000 Times Newspapers Ltd Contact: http://www.the-times.co.uk/ Author: Michael Binyon, Diplomatic Editor TALEBAN ARE TOP HEROIN SUPPLIERS The Taleban rulers of Afghanistan have become the world's biggest producers and smugglers of hard drugs, overtaking rings in Colombia and Burma. They are now responsible for 95 per cent of all the heroin entering Britain. Last year Afghanistan produced 4,600 tonnes of opium, more than twice as much as in 1998, according to the United Nations. The country's opium output is three times more than the rest of the world put together, the UN Drug Control Programme said. Almost all of it is grown in areas controlled by Taleban. The Foreign Office has announced grants of more than pounds 2.2 million to help the UN to fight the flow from producers such as Afghanistan and Latin America. Much of it will be spent on enforcing a security cordon around Afghanistan and strengthening drug policing in the Balkans, the main smuggling route for Britain-bound heroin. British officials said yesterday that the recent favourable climate, the continuing fighting, a lack of security and a drastic cutback in un manpower inside Afghanistan had all led to the upsurge in production. Analysts say that drug money is now overwhelmingly the main source of income for Taleban. A 20 per cent tax collected from opium dealers and transporters buys weapons and essential supplies. A similar tax is levied by the opposition alliance in the north east on shipments crossing into Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. Drug dealers are said to operate the only Afghan banking system, offering farmers credit for poppy crops. In the 1980s, Afghan opium was exported to the west through Pakistan, but now there are many routes out through Iran, the Gulf states and Central Asia. Britain recently gave Iran money to strengthen patrols along the Afghan border. The projects will be run by the UN Drug Control Programme, to which Britain is the third largest donor. The Foreign Office will spend pounds 6 million fighting drugs, both in supporting international controls and on direct aid. Western diplomats are alarmed, however, that moves to contain the drug trade and crime rings in Afghanistan are proving impossible. Transit countries are falling victim: Pakistan has the world's highest heroin addiction. - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D