Rise in opium cultivation sparks fears of heroin supply boom

DRUGS strategy minister Noel Ahern has outlined his concerns over a boom in the supply of heroin, following a sharp increase in opium cultivation in Afghanistan.

UN reports show the cultivation of opium jumped by nearly 60% in Afghanistan this year, threatening a glut of cheap heroin worldwide.

Gardaí and customs have already noticed a sharp growth in heroin hauls, seizing more than 42kgs so far this year, compared to totals of 32kgs in 2005 and 27kgs in 2004.