The assumption that the Taliban collected significant amounts of money taxing the cultivation of opium, the production of opiates, and on the smuggling of drugs across Afghanistan’s borders is the …
Sharing the load 1: The distributive nature of the opium trade in, and from, Afghanistan
This chapter documents empirical research along the length of the value chain for opium in Afghanistan, and across its international borders.
Catapults, pickups and tankers
This publication looks at cross-border production and trade in Nimroz, and how it shapes the political economy of this Afghanistan borderland province.
Mules, pick-ups and container traffic
This paper looks at the ‘chokepoint’ border crossings in Nangarhar province, Afghanistan – who controls the chokepoints, what commodities are transported through them, and what rules govern the amount of rent extraction.