Opium cultivation in Afghanistan is likely...

"The message is clear: in order to further reduce the biggest source of the world"s deadliest drug, there must be better security, development and governance in Afghanistan," the UNODC chief said.

Afghan opium production climbed from 3,400 metric tons in 2002 to a record 8,200 metric tons in 2007, partly because U.S. and NATO-led troops put a low priority on curbing it. Heroin flooded into Central Asia, and on to Russia.

Russia"s envoy to NATO, Dmitry Rogozin, described "heroin aggression" as "the main threat to Russia," and last month Moscow urged NATO to prioritize the fight against drug trafficking in Afghanistan.

VIENNA, February 10 (RIA Novosti)