The global trade in illicit Afghan opiates has become one of the world's greatest transnational drug and crime threats, with severe consequences for health, governance and security at national, regional and international levels. Illicit Afghan opiates are trafficked to almost every continent in the world, with the exception of South America, and are trafficked along three broad routes: the Balkan route, the northern route and the southern route. Given the severity of the problem, UNODC and the international community have identified the analysis and monitoring of Afghan opiates as a priority. A dedicated project was established in 2008 to help monitor and achieve a better understanding of the global impact of Afghan opiates.
