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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Taleban's '$100m opium takings' | Taleban's '$100m opium takings' |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The Taleban made an estimated $100m (£50m) in 2007 from Afghan farmers growing poppy for the opium trade, the United Nations says. | The Taleban made an estimated $100m (£50m) in 2007 from Afghan farmers growing poppy for the opium trade, the United Nations says. |
| Antonio Maria Costa, head of the UN's Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), said the money was raised by a 10% tax on farmers in Taleban-controlled areas. | Antonio Maria Costa, head of the UN's Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), said the money was raised by a 10% tax on farmers in Taleban-controlled areas. |
| The UN estimates last year's poppy harvest was worth $1bn (£500m). | The UN estimates last year's poppy harvest was worth $1bn (£500m). |
| Mr Costa said the Taleban made even more money from other activities related to the opium trade. | Mr Costa said the Taleban made even more money from other activities related to the opium trade. |
| FIND OUT MORE Listen to File On 4, Radio 4 Tuesday 24 June 2008 2000 BST, repeated Sunday 29 June 1700 BSTOr catch up at Radio 4's Listen Again site | FIND OUT MORE Listen to File On 4, Radio 4 Tuesday 24 June 2008 2000 BST, repeated Sunday 29 June 1700 BSTOr catch up at Radio 4's Listen Again site |
| "One is protection to laboratories and the other is that the insurgents offer protection to cargo, moving opium across the border," Mr Costa told the BBC's File on 4 programme. | "One is protection to laboratories and the other is that the insurgents offer protection to cargo, moving opium across the border," Mr Costa told the BBC's File on 4 programme. |
| Map showing expected opium cultivation levels in 2008 | |
| The final figures for this year's harvest have yet to be released but yield and proceeds are likely to be down due to drought, infestation and a poppy ban enforced in the north and east of Afghanistan. | The final figures for this year's harvest have yet to be released but yield and proceeds are likely to be down due to drought, infestation and a poppy ban enforced in the north and east of Afghanistan. |
| This would lower revenue, "but not enormously", Mr Costa said. | This would lower revenue, "but not enormously", Mr Costa said. |
| Stockpiles | Stockpiles |
| The past few years have seen abundant yields from poppy farming, with Afghan farmers cultivating more than the global demand. | The past few years have seen abundant yields from poppy farming, with Afghan farmers cultivating more than the global demand. |
| "Last year Afghanistan produced about 8,000 tonnes of opium," Mr Costa said. | "Last year Afghanistan produced about 8,000 tonnes of opium," Mr Costa said. |
| Nato says Taleban attacks are on the rise | Nato says Taleban attacks are on the rise |
| "The world in the past few years has consumed about 4,000 tonnes in opium, this leaves a surplus. | "The world in the past few years has consumed about 4,000 tonnes in opium, this leaves a surplus. |
| "It is stored somewhere and not with the farmers," he added. | "It is stored somewhere and not with the farmers," he added. |
| The stockpiles represent hundreds of millions of dollars and it is not known whether they are possessed by traffickers, corrupt Afghan officials and politicians or the Taleban. | The stockpiles represent hundreds of millions of dollars and it is not known whether they are possessed by traffickers, corrupt Afghan officials and politicians or the Taleban. |
| British officials say that drugs money funds the Taleban's military operations. | British officials say that drugs money funds the Taleban's military operations. |
| "The closer we look at it, the closer we see the insurgents [are] to the drugs trade," said David Belgrove, head of counter narcotics at the British embassy in Kabul. | "The closer we look at it, the closer we see the insurgents [are] to the drugs trade," said David Belgrove, head of counter narcotics at the British embassy in Kabul. |
| "We can say that a lot of their arms and ammunition are being funded directly by the drugs trade." | "We can say that a lot of their arms and ammunition are being funded directly by the drugs trade." |
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