Afghanistan producing most opium in the world
Kabul: Ignoring a presidential ban on opium production, Afghan farmers are growing more opium poppies than ever throughout the country, including areas previously free of the crop, officials said today.
The deposed Taliban regime had wiped out opium production. But farmers began planting poppies -- from which opium is harvested and made into heroin -- when the militia was ousted in 2001 because the plant brings in hundreds of times more in revenue than other crops.
Sydney Morning Herald, March 28 2003