How Heroin Fueled the Soviet–Afghan War | Intelligence, Drugs & Proxy Warfare

During the Soviet–Afghan War, heroin was not just a byproduct of conflict—it became a financial engine that fueled one of the Cold War’s most brutal proxy wars.In this investigative episode, we uncover how narcotics trafficking emerged as a key source of funding during the war, how intelligence agencies and regional power brokers tolerated—or exploited—drug routes to sustain militias, and how short-term war financing created long-term instability across Afghanistan and beyond.Using documented historical cases and timelines, this episode explores:• How heroin production expanded during the Soviet–Afghan conflict• Why drug trafficking became intertwined with war financing• How intelligence priorities sidelined law enforcement• The long-term consequences that still affect the region todayThis is not just a story about drugs or war.It’s about how covert strategy, criminal economies, and geopolitics merged—creating consequences that lasted decades.🎧 If you’re interested in geopolitics, intelligence operations, organized crime, and the hidden economics of war, this episode is for you.👉 Follow the podcast, like the episode, and share it with others who want to understand how power really works behind the scenes.🎙️ See you in the next episode.