Gretchen Peters
- Gretchen Peters
Gretchen Peters is the author of Seeds of Terror, a book that traces the role the opium trade has played in three decades of conflict in Afghanistan. Peters seeks to broaden the public’s perception of militants in South Asia, and to track how they are morphing into powerful narco-mafia gangs that earn hundreds of millions of dollars annually from organized crime, and in some cases drug smuggling. With the help of local reporters, she spent five years researching Seeds of Terror, combing through archives and surveying and interviewing hundreds of Taliban fighters, extremists, smugglers, law enforcement officials, diplomats and intelligence agents.
Peters also authored a policy report on the Taliban and the opium trade for the U.S. Institute of Peace, a forthcoming report on crime and insurgency with West Point’s Combating Terrorism Center and a chapter in Decoding the New Taliban. She has briefed the Pentagon, the State Department, the Drug Enforcement Agency, the Defense Intelligence Agency, Special Operations Command and other departments of the government and intelligence community on the growing nexus between extremist groups and organized crime in South Asia and the Gulf.
Peters covered Pakistan and Afghanistan for more than a decade, first for The Associated Press and later as an award-winning reporter for ABC News. She has worked with other leading media outlets including The National Geographic Society, The Christian Science Monitor and The New Republic, and is a regular commentator on NPR, CNN, BBC and countless other radio and television programs. She lives in Denver with her husband, Pulitzer prize-winning photographer John Moore and their two children. A Harvard undergraduate, she is now a Sié International Security Fellow in the doctoral program at the University of Denver’s Korbel School of International Studies, where she is studying international organized crime and national security threats. Contact her on gretchen at gretchenpeters dot org.
Dear Ms. Peters,
In regards to your very interesting Opinion piece in the NYT, I’m afraid there are two very important points not addressed (though perhaps they are in your longer work?). There is no mention on what poppy-farmers would do once the transportation network is disrupted. Even beyond that issue, the DEA’s attempt to interdict drug trafficking between central and south America and the US has been an abject and expensive failure, largely because the money is simply too alluring and the narcoindustrial interests way too intertwined with the political and economic establishments of drug-producing countries. Why should we suppose that similar measures, which failed in our own backyard, would be successful in the mountainous, tribal vastness that is Afghanistan? This region has had a thriving poppy-growing industry since the time of British colonialism (opium exportation, in the late 19th c., comprised roughly 10% of the value of ALL exports from India). The nature of an established culture and network in any valuable commodity is that it can be restricted and diminished, but never eliminated as long as business is lucrative, local society tolerates it or encourages it, and the supply remains high.
The one solution NOT presented in your article is to provide former poppy-farmers with an occupation that is somehow more appealing. But even that is not likely to succeed. So perhaps the only viable solution must be demand-side – crime only pays if the commodity is illegal and thus expensive. But, of course, that leads to policy propositions that, in the current climate, are politically untenable.
Best,
Sascha Auerbach
author, “Race, Law, and ‘The Chinese Puzzle’ in Imperial Britain” (New York, 2009).
I read your op-ed piece and wept, as I have at similar pieces over the years. For years now I have proposed a simple, swift and effective remedy for the Afghan opium problem. Here is the version I offered to the Times last month, modified to respond to your piece:
To the editors:
“Commanders are planning to cut off the Taliban’s main source of money, Afghanistan’s multimillion-dollar opium crop, by doubling the number of troops in three provinces.”, according to Dexter Filkins in the April 29 issue of your paper.
Haven’t we heard this before? In Afghanistan, in Colombia, in Southeast Asia and Latin America: more troops, more guns, more herbicidal chemicals will surely solve the problem of crops we don’t want grown. If we can’t terrorize the peasants into doing our will then maybe we can go after the druglords and their convoys. With luck and persistence we might be as effective as we have been at interdicting narcotic trade on our border with Mexico.
How can we best interrupt the flow of money
to our foes and heroin to our streets? Will we win farmers’ hearts and minds by burning their fields or bombing them with toxic chemicals? More likely we will turn then more firmly toward the Taliban. How then to deal with this dangerous crop in a way that will also advance our larger objectives?
Buy it. All of it.
Offer a price equal to or slightly above what the druglords
pay. Offer the peasants protection against druglords who
object. We are the toughest gang in town, after all.
Refine our purchases into morphine to sell or give to hospitals throughout the world to ease patients’ pain and to research laboratories investigating addiction. If we have any left over, destroy it. Keep doing this year after year until we can help the growers find an equally lucrative crop to sustain their meager lifestyles.
Expensive? Of course. But so is the alternative. And
unlike the alternatives this one will put us clearly on the side of the people — and likely put most of them on our side as well.
Charles Bell
Mountlake Terrace WA 98043
(425)775-8892
WHORE
We the black American knew about this in the 60s & 70s. If you do some resource on this time of the history.Vietnam war. That is what the black film was talking about .The drugs was coming in to the inner cities .We couldn’t bring those drugs in. We did not have the money and the planes to transport them! If you would get these black movies like Cleo patria Jones,Garden’s war ect.These movies was all about the drugs coming in to the country from Afghanistan, Middle east and South America. They even show you at the beginning of the movies.The movies was about fighting to get these drugs out of are communities. The black activist groups was complaining about that it all through the 60s ,70s. The movement was about all of this, So the these groups was label Anti- American.Even though many of these member was Vietnam solders. Who just came home from that war.They knew this was going on. We just didn’t want this in our communities. Drugs was everywhere and Drug tics. This is not new ! It was killing us. The crimes was getting out of control. They did not care then be course it was the inner cities.The government was bring the drugs in. I was a young child in I knew this.The drugs came into this country inside the bodies of dead solders.in exchange for their help of these courtiers.I grew up in the northeastern port of the United States. I am now a 48 yd old. It was tuff times.
Heard you on coast to coast, you should read up on L.E.A.P. (Law enforcement against prohibition)They believe all drugs should be legal. Poppies will grow in North America quite well.
Some Muslim countries put up with drug use it has been in their culture for so long. Heroin was legal in Iran at one time, don’t know if it still is. You said to the last caller you hope the methadon treatment works for her. Methadon is far more harmful than heroin. Methadon should only be prescribed for the shortest of peroids (no more than 5 days) methadon has many side effects, is much harder to withdraw from, you can die from sudden withdrall from it. The pharmaceutical companies are making a killing from methadon sales. As you said your expertise is 3rd world drug production problems. If heroin was legal most people woulod smoke it, because you fell the effects faster, but in the west cost is prohibitive. 70% of hard drug users are functioning people, this stat would rise if drugs became legal as price would not be a problem. Your talk was alright but you do not understand drugs in the least.
What a joke!
ALTHOUGH ,I HAVEN’T READ YOUR BOOK YET, THE GOLDEN CRESCENT POPPY FIELD’S ARE THE REAL REASON BEHIND OUR INVOLVEMENRT IN THE MIDDLE-EAST WAR!
THE CIA NEED’S TO PROTECT THEIR CASH CROPS, AS IT WAS IN VIETNAM ,THE GOLDEN TRIANGLE REGION THAT THE REAL POWER-BROKER’S HAVE CONTROL THEREOF, THEY ARE THE GLOBALIST’S WITH THE SECRET AGENDA’S AND THEY ARE INSIDE THE WHITE HOUSE NICE AND COZY AND ALL!
MY UNDERSTANDING OF THE WEALTH DERIVED FRON BOTH THE GOLDEN CRESCENT AND THE GOLDEN TRIANGLE IS SOMETHING LIKE 10 TO 12 BILLION DOLLARS BUT NEVER FEAR, POMEGRANATE’S ARE COMING AND YEAH THAT IS THE NEXT HIGH!?
da best. Keep it going! Thank you
I read your piece in the times and I read your book. I have listened to coast to coast AM and I think you are right on, hopefully the right people will get it
hey gretchen, congrats on the book & tonight’s appearance on the DailyShow. i’m looking forward to both.
-a friend from Phnom Penh ’94-95
Hi Gretchen:
Seeing as there is a world wide shortage of medicinal morphine why doesn’t the USA simply buy the opium from the Afghani farmers? It would be much cheaper and easier and would cut off the Taliban et al. It seems like it would kill three birds with one stone. It would bankrupt terrorist groups in Asia. It would give the farmers a good income and integrate them into lawful Afghani. It would allow the Afghan government to deal with many pressing social and economic issues and problem.
Cheers,
Michael
Re book : Seeds of Terror
You completely ignore America’s role in the increase in Taliban profits. While Africans with HIV are being denied access to opiates, U.S. led troops are slashing and burning opium fields. The “War on Drugs” is now being sold as the “War on Terror.” The major effect of which has been to raise the price of opiates, creating shortages of medicine and increasing Taliban profits. I’m sure both the U.S. Government and the Taliban would approve of your 9-point plan.
How exactly does increasing Taliban profits help the “war on terror?” How would the eradication of a useful analgesic that has been used medicinally for centuries help anyone?
Karzai is a puppet of the U.S. He knows that the U.S.-led war on drugs is a good thing for the Taliban in particular, and Afghanistan’s economy in general.
Follow the drug money and where will it lead?… the CIA, U.S.A., Saudi Arabia (U.S. ally and major contributor to Al Quaida)…
Try following the money… your own government won’t let you get far.
You seem to be suffering from the same delusions regarding Mexico and Central America, completely refusing to acknowledge CIA and DEA involvement with the drug cartels and the escalation of violence and drug profits caused by U.S.-trained forces.
Refusing to acknowledge that U.S. Policy has made the problems worse, you earn profits from suggesting additional ways to make the problems worse, thereby contributing to increased drug use, violence, and greater profits for terrorists. Drugs dealers and terrorists love people who think like you do.
I’ll give the book a read if anything just to say kudos for having the stones to research this book and live in this area for the past 5 years.
you looked very hot on the daily show
I just watched you on John Stewart.I am going to buy your book tomorrow. I am absolutely stunned that this is able to occur after the sacrifices we have made in the efforts in Afghanistan, The matter of fact, easy way that you lay it out is refreshing. My reaction to you is the same as Stewarts! Thank you for all you have done on this.
We need you, O’Bama needs you, the world needs you,
Keep kicking “A” and taking names. Maybe we’ll see you
in the Capitol one day.
Safe travels for you and your family,
J.
I do not believe much of what you’re saying or writing. According to UNODC, the taliban levy taxes from Afghan poppy growers at 10% of the price paid to the producer. Their taken, according to the UN, comes to around 10 million USD. That crop is converted into opium and heroin and sold in rich country markets for a total reaching billions of USD. The cash collected is laundered using very sophisticated methods. Only rich country banks have that capacity. Sure, the taliban and Al-qaida are in cahoots with those banks? Or is it more like what Alfred McCoy wrote? Remember “The Politics of Heroin in south-east Asia,”1972? He gave to understand that the US govt. was organising the narco trade to fund its war then. What about now? Doesn’t that tend to explain why they’re not hitting the narcohandlers? Is Gretchen Peters trying to cover up for the US govt?
I do believe you worked hard on this book. But, you lack the insight into addiction therefore all your 9 points do nothing about solving the problem of drug trade. The only way to solve this is legalize the drugs. price drops, not a lucrative market. Users will use legal or illegal. Drug use in my view in 10 years will drop if legalized. Alcohol and Nicotine the worst of all addictive drugs are legal? You could have offered a better solution with some insight into addiction!
We need women like you in the Senate or House. Intelligent, compassionate and with a real backbone! Hmmm. To hell with DC, we need more women like you near me! I love you! Bless you and good luck with your studies.
The book sounds interesting, but I saw you on the Daily show. I amd a six foot five inch male and I want to have your baby. You are six feet of outstanding.
Hi!!
Saw you on Daily Show and your work is very interesting. Loking forwar to reading your book.
I think your research should incude soem tiem spent with the work of Catherine Austin Fitts and the to related pieces from foprmer LAPD Narco officer Micheal Ruppert.
Unfortunately for most of us brought up under the current style of media output we are forced to believe that Narco traffic is against the norm. When in fact, the control of it is integral to the international financial system and political operations.
That said I am looking forward to reading your work.. I am glad to see a first hand in the trenches account of what is really happening in the world.
Hope to be able to send thoughts back and forth afterI read your book and as new discoveries occur.
Dennis
Saw you on Daily Show; will read your book now. Suggest you send copies to U.S. Secretarys of State and Defense . .. and Agriculture; with a note that escalating in Afghanistan must include developing an alternate cash crop to replace the drug trade.
You are more evil than the terrorists because your ignorant actions cause more deaths and violence, and is much more insidious. Try looking at what goes around in the rest of the world, besides North America or Afghanistan. If you think there will ever be peace in Afghanistan you are more deluded than I thought you were.
The way to end drug use and addiction is to legalize. By choosing to ignore this, you become part of the problem.
Come on Gretchen, you seem like an intelligent person. It would seem that after forty years of a failed “drug war” that it might be time to maybe try something different. Let me see, how about ending the prohibition on all drugs, you know like they did with alcohol, and presto; there’s no more profit in dealing drugs. I know it’s not as macho as sending in storm troupers and bombing trucks but maybe fighting violence with violence isn’t that wise anymore. Why don’t we just sit back, chill out, light up a bowl and outsmart these people. Hey, it’s just a thought.
Dear Gretchen,
I have been saying for quite some time that the pharma industry ought to be brought in on the conversation. Surely, Karzai’s brother and heads of state could work out a safe method of conveying the opium directly to the companies for processing – no?
We spend far more on synthetic opiates today, which (as a patient I know) are fraught with side-effects not customary with pure processed opium. Opium is the best 1st defense for halting diarrhea – in underdeveloped countries it would save thousands of lives. Morphine, codeine, methadone, are all opiates now produced in the labs – yet are used in every country for every kind of moderate to severe pain, as well as withdrawal from heroine and other addictions.
I think there would be interest. So the only problem would be protecting farmers and transporters from the Taliban and al Quaeda. But the cost would be no greater than the cost of finding and destroying crops. We could win the hearts of the growers and smugglers might even convert. Hire them as guards – an army created to protect the safe transport of opium to market.
Best of luck – I’m glad you are talking about this. I think and have always thought – it is the most urgent topic of conversation. I’ve been appalled when I hear about the destruction of poppy crops, without any thought of what will happen as a result. So thank you.
Next – maybe you could get China to annex North Korea in exchange for releasing the country of Tibet. They can have NK just let the Tibetans go. UN would have to agree, I guess.
Ellen
Great post! I’ll subscribe right now wth my feedreader software!
I know a way to end the illegal drug trade, legalize drugs.
We also keep forgetting that we cannot just simply destroy opium. Opium is a highly valued medical resource that many people need in order to not be in constant pain.
I saw you on John Steward. I thought you were a wonderful speaker.
Drug addiction is a sign of an ill society. Wars and invastions will not cure America’s problem.
I’m convinced that the poppy eradication program in Southern Afghanistan is what has propelled so many poor Afghan farmers to join the Taliban. It’s no coincidence that the engine of the Taliban resurgence is in the heart of the poppy producing areas. The poppies are reliable crop during drought years and provide a fairly regular income to these farmers. Take it away and you destroy their livelihood.
Dear Ms. Peters: I saw you interviewed recently on “The Colbert Report,” [my favorite news source, by the way] and was impressed with your perspective and obvious grasp of the socio-political-economic miasma that has morphed into organized terrorism. As for the Taliban’s reliance upon opium profits for economic sustenance, I think that history has proven there is no completely effective way to stamp out the production and sale of any highly profitable commodity. From the Prohibition of alcohol in 1920s America to the opium trade of today in the Middle East, illegality of substance only produces a higher profit margin for the sellers. However, as limited in success as it has been, it appears that interdiction of drugs is our most effective means of control. And the systematic hunting down of terrorists and their leaders, and killing them whenever possible, is the most effective means of combating international terrorism. Every time a Predator drone obliterates an al Queda captain whose cell phone signal was successfully GPSed to his car, dozens more of the scummy cockroaches are forced to retreat to their caves. I find it hard to believe that the societies that defeated the warrior cultures of Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan will fail to conquer these scruffy backward fanatics who would be themselves totally incapable of even creating the very weapons they attack us with, whether it be rifles, explosives or hi-jacked aircraft. – Daniel Montclaire
Sorry, my mistake, it was on John Stewart’s “Daily Show” that you appeared. I always watch he and Colbert back to back and must have gotten the two shows mixed up. Stewart is my other favorite “newsman.” – D.M.
Caught your [expletive deleted] on “The Daily Show.” That took balls…as did your romp through a war zone disguised as a six-foot blond amazon w/o a burka. I was sufficiently impressed to buy your book. A great read (so far; I’m abt. halfway through). I hope the Hillster (or some other Perfumed Princess at the State Dept.) is reading it too. You make so much sense I can’t believe you aren’t also making policy. Here’s hoping!
–Fmr. Military Affairs Editor (Car and Driver Magazine)
the folks that say buy it and buy it all are all correct, and those that say we have the power to be the baddest on the block are correct as well. Whoever says it is expensive needs to do their math, as the cost is a fraction when compared to the cost of not doing this, both in real dollars as well as lives. Any attempt to even consider alternative crops has historicl trials that make that foolish, and a progressive approach to eductaion and shrinking the global demand for narcotics for the upteenth time, make more sense, as does the decriminlization of narcotics. perhaps the big brains out there can figure out how to convert the poppy into the new biofuel.
To Gretchen Peters:
Saw you on the Daily Show and noticed that your voice wavered a bit. It used to happen to me quite frequently during public speaking, however at the time, I didn’t feel nervous, but my vocal chords responded otherwise. I now take a drug Propranolol, which many doctors take, prior to a speech and it works beautifully (no voice wavering/none). I haven’t noticed any side effects whatsoever.
Secondly, your book is the next book I read after I complete Gary Webb’s Dark Alliance, which is somewhat related to the subject of your book. Naomi Klein’s Shock Doctrine is another good read if you are looking for something to read.
Lastly, thank you for doing the REAL REPORTING that our press have either forgotten to do or will not do. Again, thank you. It is invaluable.
The fact that you are absolutely smokin’ hot is just a bonus (did I just ruin the validity of the email with that last sentence/I don’t care).
Peace,
William Gray
Santa Barbara, CA
Saw you on the Daily Show and Pbs. So? Tell me something I don’t know. What is it with Americans? The rest of the world can report stuff for years, but it’s not really valid until an American says it? It’s been almost 10 years since the Canadians, the Brits and the Dutch have made these points: Buy the crops from the farmers and turn them into pharmaceuticals. Karzai’s brother is the biggest drug dealer in the country. The Taliban make a FORTUNE off of the drugs. The drug dealers have vast tentacle networks across the country. BLAHBLAHBLAH…. and so on…. Gretchen: Tell me something I haven’t heard on CBC radio at least 20 times.
Folks out there in blinderland USA: Turn off Fox and use the internet. Want to LEARN something NEW about Afghanistan?
Watch this:
http://cpac.ca/forms/index.asp?dsp=template&act=view3&pagetype=vod&lang=e&clipID=2317
Notice the non-chalance in which these reporters decry what a disaster all the policies are. Meaning… what seems to be earth shattering to you guys is soooo old news up here.
Forget the embedded-speak frustration of how our Cdn military has obviously been taking lessons from you guys.. who cares. But listen to Graeme Smith… Probably one of the smartest guys on the subject of Afghanistan on the planet right now.
Saw you on News hour 6/21. If you are real your great.
Gretchen, you book is completely misleading and a complete fabrication of what is reality on the ground. If you were a real journalist, you would have known that the Taliban had completed eradicated the Poppy trade by banning the growing of the crop.
The current situation is that Poppy cultivation only came about post-2001 invasion, and grown by poor farmers encouraged by major criminals who have been dealing in the drug trade for years.
It is frightening that you see fit to be part of the misinformation corps, where the killing of civilians is justified under the “Taliban Insurgent” banner.
Shame on you.
Just saw you on BookTV on C-Span. Appreciated your insightful and informative take on the drug industry and its influence in the Afghan/Pakistan region. One question/concern about your presentation, and it may(!) be excused considering the atmosphere and audience:
Why the boorish, stereotypical, “wink-wink-nod-nod” reference to some insidious link between “the Bush Family” and terrorists or other evil forces in the world?
Your flip comment that such matters are in the realm of Kennedy assassination conspiracies was more astute than your audience and perhaps you realize.
I have no particular love for the Bush administrations, but geez, bring up something substantive in this regard, or drop it. I do not want to put your book on my shelf near the “Bush caused Katrina because he hates black people” collection, brought to you by a vast, left-wing conspiracy…….
One more question:
Does India demonstrate an effective means of drug interdiction along their border with Pakistan?
Thank you.
Mike Keenan
hh.. bookmarked
Please read Peter Dale Scott – http://dandelionsalad.wordpress.com/2009/05/08/afghanistan-heroin-ravaged-state-by-prof-peter-dale-scott/ or http://www.peterdalescott.net/q.html He will help you find the CIA. It seems,from your talk broadcast on CSPAN, that many people you encountered spoke of the CIA, but they never surfaced in your line of sight. Peter Dale Scott has been writing about them and drug trafficking for decades – so please, help yourself to his important work.
Dear Mrs. Gretchen,
Once again I must thank Jon Stewart for introducing me to another intelligent thoughtful person, (and beautiful as well) who is working hard to make the world a better place and inform the public. I just watched and loved your interview with him and plan to read your book asap. I’ve already read many of your blogs just now.
I honestly can’t believe some of the people on here trashing you with such nasty language like they know everything and have all the answers. If it was such an easy problem to solve, then it would’ve been solved already. This is opium people, not marijuana.
YOU are the one who risked life and limb living in Afghanistan for 5 years researching and doing all the detective work and they have the damn nerve to tell you whats what? That is just so ignorant and typical of self righteous know-it-alls who think they have an answer for everything whether or not its realistic or would actually solve the problem. THANK YOU for everything you have done and continue to do, keep it up.
I hope you are enjoying all of the flattering comments on your good looks. The best of luck to you at the Univ. of Denver. If you could please respond to me if you have the time, even with just a few words, it’d mean alot to me. Thank you again.
sincerely,
Mischa
Although you’ve ignored more Canadians per capita dieing now and for years around Kandahar while also successully pioneering the very village elder priorities reconstruction aid that you propose in your renarkable ‘misplaced priorities exposee’. Sadly, you seemed to also ignore that this modern Kipling ‘game’ was really sabotaged when the money, troops and (NATO)support and goodwill was thrown away on a, US special interests, contrived Iraq war. Neither your great insights, nor a sudden switch to combat by US or other NATO ‘bodies there can get us back in the ‘game’. Both ‘games’ have synergized a bigger monster than even our greed and opened a pandora’s box of problems that will take more real common purpose and integrity than even WW11 demanded.
Meanwhile, thanks for a great read and the obvious courage and determination that made that possible.
Ron
Hola de parte de parejaspareja.es, encontre tu blog navegando por la red buscando gay follando en google. Me parece super interesante la información que tienes en tu blog y sin lugar a dudas regresare a leerlo. Tengo una pregunta, si podria traducir tu blog “Gretchen Peters – Author” y añadirlos a un de mis blogs en italiano? Y por supuesto con el link direccionando a tu blog. Estare esperando tu respuesta. parejaspareja.es
Hola Miguel, por suppuesto usted puede traducir mi blog en espanol y italiano y poner un link a mi website. Favor de mandar me un link para que lo pueda poner en mi website tambien.
Gretchen, One thing baffles me. I too wish all peoples of the earth well in their pursuit of happiness. Do you ever think that the mistreatment of women amongst ALL Afghan men, not just the taliban, should be of greater concern, than how to turn Afghans into gentlemen farmers. The most mainstream of these characters are worse than animals to women. You cannot make happy with people like this, can you?
I understand your intentions, but wouldn’t we be better off, pouring boiling oil over the lot and starting over with immigrants. It is a little silly, but no sillier than giving a damn about this bankrupt culture. Why don’t you hold a town meeting with these nice fellows and see if they let any women take the floor without a bag over their head.
Good luck.
Since we lost the Great Game and the Chinese have a highway over the roof of the world that is 4 tanks wide or as my young Pakistani doctor says with incredlity, 8 lanes wide, just bomb the Kyber Pass. This has been war since before Kipling’s Kim. That new captive soldier must have been given hashish laced in heroin. He seems very sedated in his videos. We should never send another person who is normal to that part of the world. Let the drug addicts climb to the Shangri La of oblivion. If the Afghan women want to be free, they have enough AK’s to use on their tormentors.
Please convey my bet wishes to Ms. G. Peters. I have obtained her name while she was talking on CNN in program Amanpour.
I am very pleased to read about her book the Seeds of Terrors.
May I ask you to pass my Email to her to write to me
Once again with you regarding G. peters, I will be pleased to receiving her letters and exchange vieees on Talibans.
Please confirm delivery of my message toher.
Commodities like tea, sugar and spices were as profitable as opium in previous centuries, because they were so hard to get. As they became more widely available, they became less expensive. Lessen the world supply of opiates and you will increase prices and profits for terrorists and criminal gangs.
Russia is a corrupt country where people living in abject poverty and misery are preyed upon by criminal gangs. Is it any wonder that drug and alcohol addiction are so prevalent?