1979 - Modern Afghan drug trade begins. How?
Mujahedeen guerrillas seize territory inside Afghanistan.
Peasants are ordered to plant opium as the revolutionary tax.
Pakistan, with the blessing of their Intelligence (ISI), build processing plants where opium becomes heroin.
US denies any criticism of this drug activity, as it secondary to the war with Soviets going on.
1980s - "monster" drug use growth. New Jack City.
1990s - "War on Drugs" sees itself slide down priority list.
Cue 2001 - Taliban rules Afghanistan.
By Spring of 2001, they had destroyed 95% of Afghan poppy growth.
3656 tons in 2000 becomes 74 tons in 2001.
Heroin prices in America skyrocket.
US invades Afghanistan.
2002 - 3400 tons of opium are produced.
2005 - 500,000 acres of Afghanistan now cultivate poppy fields, despite fact US presence and technology is everywhere.
Today, as in the 90s, Afghanistan produces 70% of the world's opium.