The UN Office on Drugs and Crime reports a sharp decline in Afghan opium cultivation — from nearly 31,000 acres in 2024 to just over 25,000 — and a one-third fall in output to 296 tons. Farmers' income from opium has fallen nearly 50% amid drought and the return of roughly 4 million people, which have strained livelihoods. Despite lower cultivation, trafficking and seizures have risen about 50%, driven by demand for synthetic drugs and methamphetamine. The UN urges integrated counternarcotics strategies, alternative livelihoods and international cooperation.
U.N.: Afghan Opium Cultivation Falls by One-Third as Trafficking and Seizures Surge
The UN Office on Drugs and Crime reports a sharp decline in Afghan opium cultivation — from nearly 31,000 acres in 2024 to just over 25,000 — and a one-third fall in output to 296 tons. Farmers' income from opium has fallen nearly 50% amid drought and the return of roughly 4 million people, which have strained livelihoods. Despite lower cultivation, trafficking and seizures have risen about 50%, driven by demand for synthetic drugs and methamphetamine. The UN urges integrated counternarcotics strategies, alternative livelihoods and international cooperation.
15:24, 07.11.2025Security
U.N. report: Opium cultivation drops, but trafficking and synthetic drug seizures rise
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) reports a significant decline in opium cultivation in Afghanistan alongside a worrying increase in trafficking and law-enforcement seizures across the region.
Key findings
According to the UNODC study, just over 25,000 acres are now cultivated with opium, down from nearly 31,000 acres in 2024. Production has fallen by about one-third to 296 tons, and farmers' income from opium has dropped by nearly half over the same period.
Despite reduced cultivation and raw output, seizures in and around Afghanistan have risen by roughly 50% compared with 2024. The report links this uptick largely to growing demand for synthetic drugs, including increased methamphetamine use.
Drivers and vulnerabilities
The report highlights several factors behind these shifts: a severe drought and low rainfall have left over 40% of farmland barren, and the return of approximately 4 million Afghans from abroad has increased competition for jobs and strained household incomes. These pressures have made opium cultivation an attractive option for some families even as overall cultivation declines.
Synthetic opiate-based drugs and methamphetamines are relatively easy to produce and often harder to detect than raw opium, which has contributed to rising trafficking and seizures.
"The dynamics of supply and trafficking involve both Afghan and international actors," said Georgette Gagnon, Deputy Special Representative in charge of the UN political mission in the country. "Addressing this challenge requires collaboration among key stakeholders."
Recommendations
The UN report calls for integrated counternarcotics strategies that go beyond traditional opium-focused efforts. Recommended measures include continued eradication where appropriate, stronger support for alternative livelihoods, expanded demand-reduction programs, and targeted efforts to detect and disrupt synthetic drug manufacturing and transport.
International cooperation, sustained development assistance, and policies that address both economic vulnerability and drug demand are emphasized as essential to reduce production and trafficking in the longer term.