§ Paul FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 20 November 2001,Official Report, column 237W, on imports of heroin to Britain, what is his estimate of the percentage of heroin imported into Britain since July 2000 that originated in (a) Taliban-controlled and (b) Northern Alliance-controlled Afghanistan. [17732]
§ Mr. Bob AinsworthPre-existing stockpiles of opium and morphine base in the supply chain make it probable that the vast majority of heroin which has been imported to the United Kingdom since July 2000 originated from opium produced in Taliban controlled areas of Afghanistan. The opium crop planted in late 20(X) will not have been ready until May 2001.
Estimates of production of opium in Afghanistan in recent years are as shown in the table.
Tonnes Year Taliban Northern Alliance 1998 2,592 108 1999 4,510 140 2000 3,139 131 2001 21 164