Europe braced for cheap heroin flood

AUTHORITIES across western Europe, including Ireland, are bracing themselves for a flood of cheap heroin onto the underground market as agencies in Afghanistan report a staggering rise in opium production.

United Nations' agencies in Kabul estimate the yield from the poppy fields in the north of the country has risen by 1400% since the Taliban was toppled by US-led forces late last year. Opium production is expected to rise to 3,400 tons from just 185 tons in 2001. After refining, this translates into hundreds of tons of pure heroin destined for markets in Europe and the United States.

Customs officials in Ireland are expecting a busy year.

"Agencies would share intelligence so we are aware of these reports. We will be maintaining our vigilance to counter all forms of drug trafficking," a spokesperson said.

Privately, gardaí and customs officials fear a sharp rise in supply will lead to lower prices and unscrupulous dealers flooding the market to hook new clients. Afghanistan has traditionally been the source of 75% of the world's heroin.

The great majority of Ireland's users smoke or inject a narcotic that started life as a cash crop in the mountains of northern Afghanistan.

In Britain, Prime Minister Tony Blair has reportedly been warned of a big increase in heroin smuggling by his inter-agency drugs action team.

Despite the fact record amounts of heroin were seized in Britain in the last three months of the year, intelligence reveals there is plenty more ready to come on market. In a recent operation, 300kg of the drug, worth millions of euro, was found, only partially hidden, in a lorry at Dover.

One customs officer in Ireland said that would suggest the smugglers were not particularly worried whether it would be discovered or where the next shipment was coming from.

The Taliban launched a heavy-handed crackdown on poppy, or opium, production in 2000.

This led to a dramatic drop in supply and it was hoped the military operation to hunt down Osama bin Laden would further help cut production.

However, this has not happened as desperate communities many of which have not received promised aid began cultivating the crop instead of other less lucrative ones, such as wheat.

These communities are willing to use violence to defend their right to cultivate the crop. Late last year, a gun battle broke out between farmers and anti-drugs forces under the control of the fledgling Afghan government and the multi-national force still in the country.