Russian police want U.S. data on Afghan drug trafficking
In September Viktor Ivanov, head of the Russian Federal Drug Control Service held working meetings in Washington on September 24 with David Johnson, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) and Paul Jones, U.S. Office of the Special Representative for Afghanistan.
RIANOVASTI reports that most of the heroin and hashish coming into Russia originates in Afghanistan, and is trafficked via former Soviet republics of Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. They are then sold in Russia's largest cities, or shipped on to Europe.
"We will transfer to the Americans 175 brands of drugs made in Afghanistan. In exchange, we expect to receive from our U.S. partners data on 50 Afghan drug lords," Viktor Ivanov said. "Afghanistan currently accounts for 93% of global illegal opiate production. Over the past eight years 44,200 metric tons of opiates have been produced in Afghanistan, to say nothing of the record volume of marijuana and hashish." For the full report click here.
Ramtanu Maitra makes an excellent point. "When Gen. Stanley McChrystal, the U.S. and NATO Commander in Afghanistan, sent 4,000 Marines in July, to Helmand province, a southern stronghold of the Pushtun militants, to clear out villages and destroy opium/heroin stores, promising a quick success, he was able mobilize only 600 ANA troops. The whole campaign has now been recognized as an abysmal failure; it has also come to light that the non-Pushtun ANA personnel did their very best not to counter their ethnic rivals in this Pushtun-dominated area." To read the full article The Solution To The Afghanistan Imbroglio click here.
CBS news was astute enough to point out that the Mexican Drug Cartels are in a financial crisis due to the pot that is now being grown in the United States.
"The shifting economics of the marijuana trade have broad implications for Mexico's war against the drug cartels, suggesting that market forces, as much as law enforcement, can extract a heavy price from criminal organizations that have used the spectacular profits generated by pot sales to fuel the violence and corruption that plague the Mexican state. While the trafficking of cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine is the main focus of U.S. law enforcement, it is marijuana that has long provided most of the revenue for Mexican drug cartels. More than 60 percent of the cartels' revenue -- $8.6 billion out of $13.8 billion in 2006 -- came from U.S. marijuana sales, according to the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy."
As President Obama and NATO Commander in Afghanistan, General Stanley McChristal debate the 40,000 troop increase requested in Afghanistan number of hybrid proposals have been submitted.
Has it been fully taken into account that if marijuana is legalized in the United States, the Taliban and Al-Qaeda will lose most of their income. The evidence/proof can be inferred from the experience with the Mexican Drug Cartels.
SCENARIOS: Obama's options in Afghan war-Reuters
Comments
Its a crime against the people to keep marijuana illegal, it should be legal and regulated and controlled, to enrich our own community's and well being instead of enriching criminal enterprises who take human lives to ensure their profits, its only profitable because prohibition drives up the price, remember were talking about a weed that grown naturally. Prohibition grants criminals their dream, a everlasting tree that literally grows money, and lots of it.
Great read, and Im not surprised. I'm starting to wonder if the American Government is in on the drug trade, otherwise why do we continue failed practice that is destructive to our own economies and citizens?
Things would sure change if cannabis and hemp were suddenly legal in the USA - and for the better...
I'm not clear - I'm _guessing_ most marijuana in the U.S. doesn't come from Afghanistan, so how would legalizing pot help keep $ out of Taliban pockets?
Legalizing weed means Afghans can sell to Americans. This way, Afghans can survive without supporting the Taliban.
Afghan weed is really highly prized. The most popular strains of weed originate in Afghanistan.
Start Screaming Medical Pot Lovers, first it was the Mexicans stealing your rip-off profits and ruining the market now its the Afghanis! Gee, I wonder where you heard that before?
Ps. Marijuana is $2.00 a lb in Afghanistan. Could stop a lot of pain if organized crime syndicates didn't control the dispensaries couldn't it?
Hmm... $25.00 a gram $400.00 an ounce $120.00 a quarter ounce or:
ten cents a gram, a dollar a quarter..oh that's right compassionate dealers think the sick should empty their retirement accounts for pain-relief.
if you are thinking we would be buying imported cannabis from afghanistan, i suggest you think twice. The only cannabis people will buy will be primo buds, which afghanistan, cant match in terms of quality. Maybe for industrial size production of pot-foods, though.....
the kush valley in Afghanistan is where the American indoor growers got the strain of indica they now cross with sativa to get the high grade skunk buds we all enjoy relaxing and self medicating with here in America.
yes by all means make it legal so i can use it again. plus it will put the cia out of the pot business.
master gardener your a moron!the worlds best and most potent hashish comes from the buds of cannabis indica plants grown in Afghanistan!
afghanni black hash is the best!
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