The CIA conducted a secret program for a decade, dropping modified poppy seeds in Afghanistan to reduce opium production, without informing the Afghan government.

In a secret operation that lasted a decade, the CIA dropped genetically modified poppy seeds in Afghanistan to reduce the opium harvest, which fueled drug trafficking. The program, conducted between 2004 and 2015, was carried out through nighttime flights with British C-130 aircraft, aiming to germinate plants with low chemical content used in heroin production. Although the program was costly and secret, it had a temporary impact on the opium harvest but did not lead to a sustainable solution. After the withdrawal of American troops in 2021, opium trade continued to represent a significant part of Afghanistan's economy, and the Taliban banned opium production, yet the harvest increased again in 2023. This initiative is part of a long history of American efforts to combat narcotics globally.