poppy

US link to drug mafia in Kyrgyz coup

On April 7th a social revolt left over 80 deaths, hundreds injured and ended the government of Kurmanbek Bakiyev in Kyrgyzstan. As a result of that, the opposition led by former Foreign Affairs Minister Roza Otunbayeva, took over on an interim basis.

Opium cultivation increasing in India

An increase in illegal opium cultivation has brought new prosperity to parts of the Arunachal Pradesh region in eastern India. However this source of new wealth has also left a trail of addiction in its wake.

Poppy farmers in Afghanistan

In Badakshan, northern Afghanistan, these farmers grow poppy as a cash-crop. “People here grow opium because they have to…otherwise their children would die,” a farmer tells us.

Poppy pays for their children’s school, although most of the profits go to the big traffickers, powerful men who can afford the political protection that money can buy.

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