NATO has done nothing to fight drug output in Afghanistan

NATO forces have done nothing for the fight against drug production in Afghanistan, Russia’s Federal Drug Control Service (FSKN) head Viktor Ivanov told a briefing on Friday in the Russian city of Ufa, the venue of an SCO summit (the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation).

"Afghanistan’s budget totals $13bln while the drugs ‘are forged’ at the amount of $150bln," Ivanov said noting that the country cannot alone cope with the problem and the shadow economy lends money to illegal production.

"If we pin our hopes on temporary forces, we can see that NATO troops have done nothing there," he said. "Moreover, Special Inspector General for Afghanistan’s Reconstruction John Sopko, the US citizen, used to say that opium fields flourished right outside the territories of military bases."

Ivanov has said that the drugs land area has increased by seven percent over a year, by 60% over three years, with a considerable rise in opium yield.

"It’s a shame for the mankind," the FKSN head said.