1. Philippa Rogers Afghan Drugs Inter-Departmental Unit April 2008 The Drugs Challenge

2. Agenda Current narcotics situation The poppy cycle Afghan National Drug Control Strategy (NDCS) International support to CN

3. Current Situation Critical threat to Afghan Governance, stability and regional security. Narco-trafficking could unravel the stability and prosperity that we want Afghanistan to achieve. That is why CN is a top priority for us. And why we are in for the long haul.

6. Poppy Growth Cycle (Helmand and Kandahar) Harvest NovDecMarApr Rapid stem extension Emergence Jan ‘Head’ rises Poppy flowers and petals fall away JunMay (Badakhshan and Central Highlands tend to plant poppy in Feb/Mar and harvest it later in the Summer) Poppy Planting Oct Feb Jul Leaf extension Eradication Capsule development

7. The Strategy Tackling narcotics takes time: there are no magic bullets. Thailand and Pakistan both achieved reductions in cultivation but it took 15-20 years. An integrated long-term strategy is the right approach and in fact the only one.

8. National Drug Control Strategy “to secure a sustainable decrease in cultivation, production, trafficking and consumption of illicit drugs with a view to complete and sustainable elimination” NDCS 8 Pillars Building CN Institutions Public Awareness Alternative Livelihoods Eradication Law Enforcement Criminal Justice International & Regional Co-operation Demand Reduction & Treatment of Addicts

9. Progress against the 4 Priorities of the CN Strategy Targeting the Trafficker In 2007 there were over 278 convictions for narcotics offences out of a total of 500. Kabul airport has started a clamp down - one seizure alone was worth £500k. Building Institutions CN Police of Afghanistan - 1,900 officers, forensic lab and intelligence unit operational, 9 Mobile Detection Teams operating Over their period of operation the MDTs have seized drugs with a street value of over £100 million Strengthening Legal Livelihoods Over 34,000 community projects financed (eg. sanitation, power, agriculture, education) 9,500 km roads reconstructed Micro-finance loans - over £170m to over 418,000 Afghans Seeds & fertiliser to over 537,000 farmers Over £213m of grants disbursed for local development needs Demand Reduction 8 drug treatment centres set up 5,450 + addicts treated

10. Progress Creating a credible risk to being involved with the narcotics trade and providing alternatives to farmers and others. As already highlighted, total area and geographical spread of poppy cultivation continues to fall as security and governance improve. And the IMF estimates licit GDP growth of 13% in 2007/08, up from 7.5% in 2006/07, largely due to a rebounding agricultural sector.

11. CN Effort in 2008  Information campaign  Licit livelihoods for farmers –Irrigation –Local sourcing and contracting –Private sector development –WB/DFID Report  Good Performers Initiative - incentives for Governors - US$9m of development projects are already in the pipeline to demonstrate to provincial Governors CN pays  Tackle corruption  Better targeted eradication –Force protection: ANA CN Infantry Kandak (CNIK) –Target rich landowners  Demand reduction  Co-ordination with ISAF  QIPs  Increased disruption and targeting of drugs/insurgency nexus (eg. ASNF ops)

12. Helmand and the South Drugs and insecurity fuel each other leading to increasing cultivation between drugs and insurgency. Farmers cannot trade or diversify in the midst of conflict Growing cooperation and collaboration Heroin labs and weapons caches are often co-located Drugs and arms are often transported via same routes and vehicles Opium profits finance the insurgency in the South - 10% ‘usher’ Drug-related corruption fuels insecurity; insecurity in turn provides an environment conducive to the drugs trade Therefore: CN now part of a COIN strategy

13. International Support Key that international community works together to deliver success on CN Key areas: - Economic incentives for rural development - Mentors and trainers for CNPA, and Criminal Justice Task Force to aid law enforcement efforts. - Enhanced support on drug demand reduction side.

14. In summary: Drugs are a critical threat. Need to work together to achieve progress But need to show strategic patience. Integrated long-term strategy is the right approach. We are already seeing some success.

15. Philippa.Rogers@fco.gov.uk ADIDU 020 7008 2519 Foreign and Commonwealth Office King Charles Street London SW1A 2AH