The narcotics trade contributes to the corruption of officials and funds anti-government militias. Simply eradicating fields and punishing farmers is not sufficient. Instead, a counternarcotics strategy must utilize all the tools available, including assistance to farmers, regional outreach, and civil-military coordination to complement the prosecution of criminals.

Our SMEs have worked with all levels of stakeholders in the counternarcotics effort – from Afghan and NATO forces to tribal and religious leaders – in operations to eradicate poppy cultivation. Their approach focuses on the provision of alternative livelihoods and markets for former poppy cultivators and the development of communications programs. Programs involve the leaders from federal and local levels in the counternarcotics effort. By facilitating the shift to profitable and licit crop production, current gains in counternarcotics can be sustained through future growing seasons.