Pubdate: Mon, 17 Feb 2003
Source: Australian, The (Australia)
Copyright: 2003 News Limited
Contact:  http://www.theaustralian.com.au/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/35
Author: James Madden and AAP
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/heroin.htm (Heroin)

HEROIN SURGE TIED TO END OF TALIBAN

The overthrow of the Taliban has caused Melbourne's illegal heroin trade to 
flourish, says a government minister.

Victorian Police Minister Andre Haermeyer said the greater supply of heroin 
on the city's streets was the result of a 21-fold increase in the Afghan 
poppy crop since the fall of the Taliban last year. The fundamentalist 
Islamic Taliban regime had cut the country's annual poppy crop to 185 
tonnes before the September 11 terrorist attacks but it had increased to 
3400 tonnes since the regime was overthrown, Mr Haermeyer said. The Howard 
Government needed to pressure the US to strangle the heroin trade within 
Afghanistan, he said.

But federal Justice Minister Chris Ellison said reports of an increase in 
heroin in Victoria were largely anecdotal. Concerns over increased opium 
production failed to recognise that most of Afghanistan's heroin went to 
the US and Europe, he said.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager