4 chapters across the catalog
Camp Bastion Security Breach and Poppy Cultivation
A British parliamentary committee found that commanders were "complacent" during a 2012 Taliban attack on Camp Bastion in Afghanistan. A BBC report initially mentioned that poppy cultivation was allowed right up to the base's perimeter fence, though this detail was reportedly removed from subsequent broadcasts.
UNODC Report, Afghanistan Opium Production and Record Harvests
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) reports that opium poppy cultivation in Afghanistan reached a record high in 2013. Cultivation increased by 36% over the previous year, with the farm-gate value reaching nearly $1 billion. The hosts note that the largest increases occurred in provinces where international military bases are located.
UNODC Afghanistan Opium Survey, Production Statistics and Monsanto
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) released its 2010 Afghanistan Opium Survey, reporting a sharp drop in opium yields due to a plant infection. Adam Curry analyzes the report's data, noting that while yields are down, the actual area of cultivation remains unchanged at 123,000 hectares. The hosts mock the precision of the UN's census data regarding poppy-farming households.
Afghan Opium Production, Bloomberg Commodity Index
Bloomberg reports that Afghan opium prices have hit an eight-year low, with poppy cultivation falling 22% to 123,000 hectares. The hosts question how financial analysts can track illicit drug production with such specific dollar amounts and percentages. They suggest the opium trade is a "completely known industry" that is managed similarly to legal global commodities.
