The recent ban on opium cultivation and production in Afghanistan by the Taliban has raised concerns about the future availability and quality of heroin in Europe. Heroin is the most commonly used illicit opioid in the EU, and almost all of it originates from Afghanistan. The EU drug market for heroin and other opioids is estimated to be worth at least EUR 5.2 billion annually.
A dramatic decline in opium production
According to the latest UNODC figures for 2023, opium poppy cultivation and production in Afghanistan have declined by 95% compared to 2022, following the Taliban’s announcement of a ban in April 2022. Cultivation was estimated at 10 800 hectares in 2023, down from 233 000 hectares in 2022. Opium production was estimated at 333 tonnes in 2023, down from 6 200 tonnes in 2022.
This is the lowest level of opium production in Afghanistan since 2001, when the previous Taliban regime imposed a similar ban. However, the current ban may not be as effective as the previous one, as some farmers and traffickers may have stockpiled opium or hidden their crops from the authorities. Moreover, the ban may not be enforced uniformly across the country, as some local commanders may have different interests or incentives.
No signs of heroin shortages in Europe yet
At present, there are no signs of heroin shortages in Europe, as the market may still be supplied by existing stocks or alternative sources. The quantity of heroin seized by EU Member States more than doubled in 2021 to 9.5 tonnes, the highest amount in 20 years. Large individual consignments were detected at seaports, indicating that maritime routes are becoming more important for heroin trafficking.
There are around 1 million high-risk opioid users in the EU, who are mainly injecting heroin. Heroin use is responsible for around three-quarters of the over 6 000 drug-related overdose deaths in the EU in 2021. The availability and accessibility of harm reduction services, such as opioid substitution treatment, naloxone distribution, and drug consumption rooms, are crucial for preventing and reducing the health and social harms of heroin use.
Potential implications for public health and security
Nonetheless, the Taliban’s ban on opium cultivation, if it is sustained, could have a significant impact on heroin availability in Europe in the future. A decrease in heroin supply could lead to several possible scenarios, such as:
- An increase in the price and a decrease in the purity of heroin, which could affect the affordability and quality of the drug for users. This could also increase the risk of adulteration, contamination, or substitution of heroin with other substances, such as fentanyl or other synthetic opioids, which are far more potent and lethal than heroin.
- A shift in user preferences or behaviours, such as switching to other drugs, such as methamphetamine, cathinones, or cocaine, or changing the mode of administration, such as smoking or snorting instead of injecting. This could have different implications for the health and well-being of users, depending on the type, dose, frequency, and context of drug use.
- A change in the dynamics and structure of the criminal networks involved in heroin trafficking and distribution, which could affect the level and nature of violence, corruption, and money laundering associated with the illicit drug market. Some networks may diversify their activities or products, while others may lose their influence or market share.
A need for monitoring and cooperation
The situation in Afghanistan and its implications for the EU heroin market are uncertain and evolving. Therefore, it is important to monitor the developments and trends closely, using various sources and indicators, such as cultivation and production estimates, seizure data, price and purity data, drug use surveys, treatment demand data, drug-related death data, and wastewater analysis.
It is also essential to enhance the cooperation and coordination among the relevant stakeholders, such as the EU Member States, the EU agencies, the UNODC, the neighbouring countries, and the civil society organisations, to share information, exchange best practices, and implement effective and evidence-based responses to the challenges and opportunities posed by the changing heroin market.
