Smoke and mirrors: Afghanistan's illicit Drug Economu after the opium ban.
Global Initiative
Crossroads of crime and resilience.
2.1 Global drug trafficking shifts to a duopoly Drug markets have been undergoing profound transformations, driven by major shifts in the global criminal economy. Disruptions in Afghan heroin production, surging cocaine supplies, the steady rise in the market for synthetic opioids, and the partial legalization of cannabis in some countries are reshaping patterns of production, trafficking and consumption worldwide.1 As the dynamics of the drug markets change, the consequences for public health, organized criminal activity and drug-related violence are becoming increasingly severe. © Rashide Frias/AFP via Getty Images The result is a steadily expanding global drug trade, marked by record-high drug use and mounting social and security costs in nearly every region. The 2025 World Drug Report estimates that 316 million people used drugs in 2023 – a 28% increase over the past decade, outpacing global population growth.2 Beneath this overarching trend, distinct dynamics are emerging th...
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