Heroin in Afghanistan

[philippe]

First off, I'm not a member of the Canadian Forces, but a reporter for Maclean's magazine. I'm trying to get an idea of just how prevalent or available heroin is in Afghanistan and was hoping someone here might be able to help. Feel free to contact me off the board (my email address is in my profile) if you prefer. Thanks for any information you might have.

 

[GAP]

Are asking in relation to access by Canadian Forces personnel, the local population, or what?

I'll stand to be corrected, but I don't really see the CF soldiers having a lot of socialogical contact with the Afghan population.

 

[00334]

Here is his blog if anybody wants to read it.

http://forums.macleans.ca/advansis/?mod=for&act=dis&eid=57&so=&ps=&sb=

 

[philippe]

What I'd like to know is what kind of impact the abundance of heroin might be having on the mission, if any at all. That is, are CF personnel in Afghanistan exposed to the local heroin trade at all, or is it totally out of sight? I'm sorry if this is a little vague; I'm just trying to see if fighting in a drug-infested region poses any particular challenges.

(And yes, that's my blog alright.)

 

[R.O.S]

Here this may help http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6965672.stm

 

[G-Thompson]

I am in no way a expert on this but i do know a little so i'll offer what i can. (Feel free to correct me anyone who thinks i am wrong)

Herion comes from opium. Opium is one of the main things to be grown/harvested/manufactured in Afghanistan (in the form of poppies initially). I believe the statistic is 90-95% of the worlds opium comes from Afghanistan. Opium in Herion form is much more a North American/ European thing then it is middle/east asia. (Not to say no-one uses herion there, but that its often used as opium not herion)

Poppy farming is often a more profitable form of business as the crop is more valuable then many others. Sometimes the farmers have established trade with the drug-lords. (They are to be noted a seperate entity then the Taliban, although they may or may not be in cahoots depending on the current local enviroment) Sometimes the farms are run by the drug-lords and sometimes the farmers are bullied into farming poppies for them.

So yes, it is quite accessible there. However i am not sure how accessible the manufactured form (Ie opium and herion as oppose to poppies) is and if the manufacturing is done in country. I can tell you some of it and there are concerns of the local population using and supporting the drug trade.

As for CF being exposed to it, again i am not 100% sure on this but i would imagine there armed conflicts in relation to it. As part of the over-all mission is dismantling the drug-trade. If by exposed you mean users? I certainly hope not and i doubt so, and if any do use i would imagine them to be a very very tiny minority.

Just the tim-bits of knowledge i know..

-Thompson

 

[Franko]

I am in no way a expert on this but i do know a little so i'll offer what i can. (Feel free to correct me anyone who thinks i am wrong)

You are not in the CF (as per your profile)....and I think the reporter is looking for serving members and their take on the heroin trade there.

Do not make comments on what you don't know....your conjecture and speculation could lead to a mis-understanding.

I'm sure you wouldn't want that.       

The Milnet.ca Staff

 

[Blakey]

Here are a couple of the links that I have used for research purposes (If you don't already have them)

UNDOC Site, Main Page (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime)


2007 Afghanistan Opium Survey (PDF File)
(Previous years surveys are available as well)

Cheers

 

[philippe]

Thanks a lot for the links. Much appreciated.

Does anyone have any personal experiences they're willing to share? If you don't want to post them here, you're more than welcome to send them by email. (I'll happily respect any wishes to remain anonymous.)

 

[George Wallace]

Before you take any advice and 'run' with it.  Please do all of us a favour and check some of the profiles of people posting.  Some of the above posts, without reference to the profile of the person posting, can become a serious matter of concern.

I remind the people posting to remember OPSEC and PERSEC.  I also strongly discourage children from posting in topics that have serious ramifications on future events.

 

[combat_medic]

It's highly unlikely that, even if there is anyone here who has any personal experiences that they would be both willing and able to talk to you about them without some major OPSEC violations. Also, considering that you would be unable to verify the stories of people who send you an e-mail (we have enough posers and wannabes on here to choke a horse), and that none of the research would be useable or credible, being an internet medium, you would be best to do ACTUAL research, the hard way, by speaking to the appropriate people by using the appropriate chain of command.

 

[honestyrules]

I might be way wrong, but I think Phillipe is trying to find evidences of something that doesn't exist....
War is not like during the Vietnam days, where some troops were filmed "being high on drugs", reacting silly, shooting without taking cover and endangering all their buds...

 

[MikeM]

My spidey sense is tingling about the agenda of this information you seek.

 

[philippe]

I might be way wrong, but I think Phillipe is trying to find evidences of something that doesn't exist....
War is not like during the Vietnam days, where some troops were filmed "being high on drugs", reacting silly, shooting without taking cover and endangering all their buds...

My spidey sense is tingling about the agenda of this information you seek.

While I understand the reluctance to discuss these things on a public forum, there are no insinuations about anyone doing anything improper. The issue I'm getting at is how to fight a war in a place that's literally drenched in a destructive and addictive drug. Obviously, that can impact soldiers - although there would presumably be differences between the behaviour of an army of draftees (like in Vietnam) rather than a volunteer one. But a context of widespread heroin use/smuggling is bound to also impact relationships with interpreters, local sources, the training of security forces, etc. If anonymity is required to talk about this, that can be arranged, but rest assured, this isn't some drive-by smearing. Anyone's who's got any worries is free (and completely entitled) to contact me.

 

[Trooper Hale]

Sir,

It sounds like you are attempting to find a Strategic Corporal to make a statement that you can use in future articles.  I would suggest that you not search here, but pursue the information you seek through official channels, or, if possible, travel to Afghanistan to observe our troops firsthand and therefore draw your own conclusions.

I suggest that site members not entertain this request - I see no good coming from it.

Sorry Phillipe but Hear Hear CSA105. The only thing that could come out of talking through unofficial channels with unknown faces on the internet is bad juju for all concerned.
Go talk to your closest base, see if one of the bosses will let you talk to his men who've been over there. Make it official, believe it or not, but thats where you'll get your honest answers. They'll tell you what they've seen and what they believe firsthand which is always the best way to collect info.

 

[Osotogari]

What is the key thing that can be learned from this thread?


THE ENEMY IS LISTENING

..........and to add to that, so are their useful idiots.

I would have hated to see the idealogical prism used to filter the "unofficial" or "unnamed' sources used in the article in question, as I don't think anyone from MacLeans, CTV, CBC, or the Globe and Mail have ever met a lieberal they didn't like.  With Dion's agenda I'm sure I can guess.  I'm sure this guy will come up with his own conjecture if he can't get it here.

 

[MikeM]

+1 CSA, don't care who you are or who you work for, the CF has PAFFO for a reason. Or better yet, go over there for yourself and find out.

 

[Brockvegas]

Now may be a good time to lock this up, before it does any damage. "Phillipe" has been given direction as to where the information he seeks can be found, and it is not here. If there is a Mod around......

 

[FastEddy]

Now may be a good time to lock this up, before it does any damage. "Phillipe" has been given direction as to where the information he seeks can be found, and it is not here. If there is a Mod around......

That might not be in the best interest of this Thread, in that the number of (on track of course) CF members,
past and present who voice their positive opinions and suggestions concerning "Phillipe"s inquiries, should be evidence that he's fishing in the wrong pond.

It so blatantly obvious that he is obviously fishing for a Whistle Blower, where none exists because the association is moot. Its almost laughably like comparing it to a Surgeon operating on a Cancer ridden patient trying to save his life, but as a result, is he or will he get the Patients Cancer.

Post on Comrades.

Cheers.

 

[Brockvegas]

Good point. I retract my previous suggestion. Let's see how many times he hits that dead horse before he gives up.