DUSHANBE, July 30 (RIA Novosti) - The Russian, Tajik, Afghan and Pakistani presidents called on the international community on Thursday to take additional steps to fight drug trafficking.
During their meeting in the Tajik capital of Dushanbe, the leaders also appealed to the World Bank to assist regional economic projects.
According to estimates, about 90% of heroin consumed in Russia is trafficked from Afghanistan via ex-Soviet states, mostly Central Asian countries.
The leaders also underlined the importance of developing economic and regional trade ties to boost the development of the region and attract foreign investment.
“Most of the chemicals for heroin production in Afghanistan come from the Pakistani border,” Muhammad Omar Ayar, Afghan vice-minister for refugees, said at a “Peace and stability in Afghanistan” roundtable at RIA Novosti.
Borders in Afghanistan, especially with Pakistan, are notoriously porous after some 30 years of war, he added.
Opium produced in Afghanistan mainly contains up to 12% morphine, an opiate alkaloid, which is processed chemically to produce heroin.
