Global Ganja Report

The UK's Royal Air Force on Aug. 22 boasted that its Reaper drones helped uncover a stash of heroin with an estimated street value of over £10 million. The Reapers, remotely piloted by members of the RAF's 39 Squadron, tracked two vehicles after determining that they were likely to contain the hidden compartments typically used by drug traffickers. One vehicle was low on its suspension, while the rear of an accompanying flatbed truck appeared too shallow, suggesting a hidden storage area. A raid on the two vehicles by Afghan National Security Forces and the US Marine Corps led to the seizure of 1,208 kilograms of dry opium and 59 kilograms of processed heroin. (Defence Management, Aug. 22)

According to the latest UN figures, Afghanistan is still the planet's main supplier of opium, accounting for over 90% of world production. The UN figures indicate that 14 Afghan provinces have increased opium cultivation over the past year, with the biggest advances reported in Helmand province. Impoverished farmers can win more than three times as much income per hectare from opium than convention crops like wheat. (Prensa Latina, Aug. 13)

Photo by Tennessee Wanderer

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