Pubdate: Wed, 26 Sep 2001 Source: Orange County Register (CA) Copyright: 2001 The Orange County Register Contact: http://www.ocregister.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/321 TALIBAN STILL PROFITS FROM OPIUM CROP WASHINGTON The Taliban government in Afghanistan has earned tens of millions of dollars from the export of heroin and other narcotics since it proclaimed last year that it was ending opium poppy cultivation, U.S. officials say. Cutting off a key source of revenue is part of the Bush administration's economic campaign against the regime, the officials said. The Taliban won acclaim in July 2000 when the leaders banned the growing of opium poppies. U.N. inspectors say poppy cultivation largely has been eradicated in areas under the Taliban's control, a finding confirmed by U.S. narcotics experts. But the Taliban did not outlaw the possession or sale of opium, and the existence of stockpiles was known to the United Nations, which noted in a report in May that Afghan opium poppy production had leaped to 4,600 tons in 1999 from 2,500 tons in 1998, and was 3,100 tons in 2000. The Bush administration would now like to cut off that money. One senior official said targeting stockpiles of opium, the raw ingredient for heroin, and laboratories was difficult, but Washington has not ruled out military force. - --- MAP posted-by: Josh