The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime estimates the total value of the global opium and heroin market to be valued at $64.82 billion.

Number of heroin users worldwide: 11.1 million.

Source: United Nations, ” 2005 World Drug Report,” Office on Drugs and Crime, June 2005, pg. 132.

According to officials, in 2010 black tar heroin from Mexico accounted for two thirds of the heroin market in the United States.

Source:  Sam Quinones, “A lethal business model targets Middle America,” Los Angeles Times, February 14, 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.

There were an estimated 5 million drug addicts in Russia in 2010, with half of all addicts addicted to heroin.

Heroin causes at least 30,000 deaths per year in Russia.

Source: Rupert Wingfield-Hayes, “Russia blames Nato for heroin surge from Afghanistan,” BBC News, February 27, 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 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 reported that the potential value of Burma’s 2009 opium production was $104 Million, down 15 percent from the $123 Million value in 2008.

Source:  “Myanmar rebels grow more opium to buy arms – report,” Reuters, December 14, 2009.

The world’s second largest opium producing country after Afghanistan is Burma/Myanmar, which in 2009 produced 5 percent of the world’s opium.

Source:  Thomas Fuller, “U.N. Says Opium Trade Is Expanding in Myanmar,” New York Times, December 14, 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.