OPIUM PRODUCTION IN AFGHANISTAN: INTERNATIONAL ISSUE PROPOSAL

Ian RichardsonInternational Studies Dept.College of Arts and Sciences

Faculty Mentor: Todd SpinksInternational Studies Dept.

Overview•Problem Statement

•Literature Review

•Proposal▫Counter-Drug Teams (CDTs)▫Key areas of focus▫Key Assumptions

•Questions

boston.com

Problem Statement•UNODC - Afghanistan grows more opium

than any other nation▫157,000 hectares in 2008▫Helmand Province

•Sale of Opium funds the Taliban insurgency▫Approx $439 mil. in 2007▫Taliban have become fragmented and

criminalizedUnited Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. “Afghanistan Opium Survey 2008.” http:www.unodc.org.

Peters, Gretchen. Seeds of Terror: How Heroin is Bankrolling the Taliban and Al Qaeda. New York: St. Martin’s Press, 2009.

Problem Statement•Growth of legal crops is no longer feasible

▫Economic limitations▫Infrastructure limitations▫Experience limitations

•Hawala – Informal financial networks▫Utilized by criminal periphery▫Difficulty monitoring flow of currency

Medler, James D. “Afghan Heroin: Terrain, Tradition, and Turmoil” Foreign Policy Research Institute, (Spring, 2005): 275-291.

Maimbo, Samuel Munzele. “Money Exchange Dealers of Kabul: A Study of the Hawala System in Afghanistan.” Finance and Private Sector Unit South Asia Region. Washington, D.C.: World Bank, June 2003.

Literature Review•Experts Agree:

▫Links between Taliban and Opium traffickers are genuine

▫Extermination is not effective

•Several proposed solutions…

Literature Review•“Security First” Mentality:

▫Illicit activities flourish in insecure societies

▫Security and rule of law should be the main priority

▫Opium issue should not be addressed until this is achieved

•Can security be attained?United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. “Afghanistan Opium Survey 2008.” http:www.unodc.org.

Winer, Jonathan M. “Countering Terrorist Finance: A Work, Mostly in Progress.” The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science no. 618 (2008).

Emery, James. “Opium, Afghanistan’s Other War.” The World and I 22, no. 10 (Oct 2007)

[1] Chouvy, Pierre-Arnaud and Laurent R. Laniel. “Agricultural Drug Economies: Cause or Alternative to Intra-State Conflicts?” Crime, Law and Social Change 48 (2007)

Literature Review•“Alternative Livelihood” Mentality

▫Incentivize/Subsidize legal agriculture▫Build agricultural infrastructure▫Educate farmers on alternatives to Opium

Poppy

• Problems:▫Indefinite subsidies▫Interferes with development of

independent Afghan economyMedler, James D. “Afghan Heroin: Terrain, Tradition, and Turmoil” Foreign Policy Research Institute, (Spring, 2005)

International Crisis Group. “Countering Afghanistan’s Insurgency: No Quick Fixes.” Asia report no. 123, November 2, 2006, http://www.crisisgroup.org/home/index.cfm?id=4568.

Proposal•Counter-Drug Teams

▫Modeled after Afghan PRTs•Structure of CDTs based on three key

focus areas▫Targeting Criminals and Drug Traffickers▫Offering Alternative Crops▫Obstructing the Flow of Drug Money

Targeting Criminals and Drug Traffickers

•CIA, DEA, DoD

▫Utilize technologies to pursue key individuals

▫Create human networks to gather intelligence

▫Kill or capture targets for trial in Afghan justice system

•CDT Commander will be a senior military officer

Offer Alternative Crops•USAID and USDA

▫Provide funds and materials to rebuild infrastructure and incentivize legal agriculture

▫Provide expertise and education on effective and responsible agricultural practices

Obstructing the Flow of Drug Money•US Dept. of the Treasury, Office of

Terrorism and Financial Intelligence (OFTI)

▫Locate, track and cut off lanes for illegal funds

▫Cooperate with Hawaladars and local govs. to update and formalize money lending

▫Create a national Hawaladar licensing body

▫Maintain traditional trust-based money lending network

Key Assumptions•Support of the Military

▫Necessary for security, basing and transportation

•Personnel needs will be met▫Approx. 670 individuals (not including DoD)

•No further deterioration of security▫CDTs need a relatively secure environment▫Discretion of CDT Commander is crucial

•Price of Opium remains stable▫Spike in farm-gate prices▫Caches and stores must be located

Review•Problem Statement

•Literature Review

•Proposal▫Counter-Drug Teams (CDTs)▫Key areas of focus▫Key Assumptions

http://politicspeaksvalleys.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/afghan-opium-polytricks.jpg

Questions?