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According to the United States Government Accountability Office, between 12 to 41 percent of police recruits in Afghanistan have tested positive for illegal substances.

Source:  Sue Pleming, “Drug abuse is problem among Afghan police recruits,” Reuters, March 10, 2010.

The United States Ambassador to Afghanistan reported in December 2009 that up to $10 Million in opium money is being funneled to the United Arab Emirates every day.

Source:  Zawya Dow Jones, “FOCUS: Dubai’s Dark Side Exposed By Al Mabhouh Killing,” Wall Street Journal, March 4, 2010.

In 2009, the United Nations Office on Crime and Drugs reported that 6,900 tons of opium was being produced in Afghanistan each year, while the entire world consumed 5,000 tons of opium.

Source: Associated Press, “UN forecasts ’stable’ Afghan opium crop,” February 10, 2010.

The United Nations Office on Crime and Drugs reported that Afghans paid up to $2.5 Billion in bribes in 2009.

The average amount paid in bribes was $160, and that half of all Afghans paid at least one bribe to a public official within the  year.

Source:  Alex Rodriguez, “Corruption robs Afghans of a quarter of nation’s GDP, report says,” Los Angeles Times, January 20, 2010.

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime reported that at the end of 2009, the value of opium produced in Afghanistan was $2.8 Billion, down from $3.4 Billion in 2008.

The value of the opium trade in Afghanistan represents up to a quarter of the country’s GDP.

Source:  “Afghan Opium Survey: export value of Afghan opium is falling,” UNODC, December 17, 2009.

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime estimated that Afghan Poppy Farmers made $730 Million harvesting the crop in 2008.

Source:  Paul Armstrong, “Russia seeks U.S. help in fight against heroin epidemic,” CNN, December 9, 2009.

Antonio Maria Costa, head of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, reported that 50 to 60 tons of cocaine is trafficked across West Africa each year.  In addition, 30 to 35 tons of heroin from Afghanistan is trafficked into East Africa each year as well.

Source: “Africa drug trade fuelling terrorism and crime, says UN,” BBC News, December 9, 2009.

Afghanistan’s Minster of Finance stated that up to $10 Million is being smuggled out of the country by corrupt officials.  The cash is being flown to Dubai where it is funneled into financial institutions. The money is mainly proceeds from drug trafficking operations, as well as individuals imply attempting to hid their assets.

US Officials believe that portions of the cash ends up in the hands of the Taliban.

Source:  Tony Perry, “$10 million is smuggled out of Afghanistan daily, official says,” Los Angeles Times, December 6, 2009.

According to the 2009 Corruption Perceptions Index by Transparency International, Somalia is the most corrupt nation in the world, followed by Afghanistan.

The least corrupt nation is New Zealand, followed by Denmark.

Source:  Phyllis Korkki, “The Countries Most Known for Corruption,” New York Times, December 5, 2009.