December 25, 2001

Russia reports that an increasing amount of drugs are being smuggled from Tajikistan. That country is becoming a major base for moving Afghan and locally produced opium and heroin into Russia and Europe. The drought in northern Afghanistan and Tajikistan has made growing poppies (the source of opium and heroin) more attractive. Poppies require one fourth the water of wheat, and bring in 60-90 times as much cash.